Spatial Orientation Flashcards
1
Q
What are the four types of Vestibular Illusions?
A
- The Leans
- Graveyard Spin
- Spiral
- Coriolis Illusion
2
Q
Why do vestibular illusions happen?
A
Illusions involcing the semi-circular canals of the vestibular system (inner ear) occur primarily under conditios of unreliable or unavailable external visual references, resulting in sensations of rotation
3
Q
What are The Leans?
A
- Most common illusion
- Caused by a sudden return to level flight following a gradual and prolonged turn that went unoticed by the pilot.
- Even though back in level flight, pilots tend to lean back towards the side they were banked on because their inner ear/brain is still trying to ‘keep them level’
4
Q
What is the graveyard spin? How do we counteract this?
A
- Illusion that happens when in a spin without reference to the ground
- Gives the illusion that the spin is slowing down/stopping
- Because it feels like the spin stops, maybe you dont put opposite rudder in at all. Or maybe you do and it feels like the plane ‘starts’ spinning the other way, so you try to correct that etc etc until you hit the ground
- Trust your instruments!
5
Q
What is a Graveyard Spiral?
A
- More common than the graveyard spin
- Associated with a return to level flight following a prolonged bank turn. You wont feel like you’re level so you’ll actually bank it again
- Or if you are in a turn and it stops feeling like a turn so you turn more
6
Q
What is Coriolis Illusion?
A
- Looking up and down or tilting your head sideways in a turn (like looking up from a map)
- Produces an almost unbearable sensation that the aircraft is rolling, pitching,, and yawing all at the same time (vertigo) like its rolling down a hill
- Can quickly disorientate the pilot and lose control of the AC
7
Q
What re proproceptive receptors?
A
Sensors in your skin and muscles that help orientate us (sitting down -> pressure on your butt = up must be that way)
