An ATSB research report released today examines the problem of
spatial disorientation.
Flying an aircraft is a challenging activity that exposes pilots
to many potential hazards. One of the most significant of these is
spatial disorientation. Spatial disorientation is a condition where
the pilot is unable to correctly interpret aircraft attitude,
altitude or airspeed in relation to the Earth. The resulting
disorientation can lead to a loss of control of the aircraft.
Spatial disorientation is a very common problem. It is vitally
important that pilots are aware that it can affect any pilot, any
time, anywhere, in any aircraft, on any flight, depending on the
prevailing circumstances. It has been estimated that the chance of
a pilot experiencing spatial disorientation during their career is
in the order of 90 to 100 per cent. In other words, if a pilot
flies long enough as a career, or even a hobby, there is almost no
chance that he/she will escape experiencing at least one episode of
spatial disorientation.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) commissioned
aviation medicine specialist, Dr David Newman, to explore the
various types of spatial disorientation in the aviation
environment, and to suggest strategies for managing the risk
associated with these events.
The ATSB report explains that the chances of a spatial
disorientation event occurring in flight can be reduced by a series
of simple preventive measures, many of which can be attended to
before flight. These include flying when fit and well to do so, not
flying under the influence of alcohol or medications, avoiding
visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions,
increasing awareness of spatial disorientation illusions and
planning for their possible appearance at different stages of
flight in the pre-flight planning process.
The ATSB report encourages pilots who have had a spatial
disorientation event to share their experiences with their aviation
colleagues, either informally, or through magazines, journals and
web-based forums.
A more open approach to acknowledging and discussing spatial
disorientation and its various causes will make a valuable
contribution to a better understanding of this common human
factor.
Copies of the report can be downloaded from the ATSB's internet
site at www.atsb.gov.au
Media Contact: 1800 020 616
