1. 3 Kind of People
1. Those that make things
happen
2. Those that watch things
happen
3. Those that wonder what
happened
Capt Jim Lovell
Commander Apollo 13
3. Overview - Spatial
Disorientation (SDO)
Definition
Senses of orientation and how
they are affected
Types of SDO
Vestibular Illusions
Prevention and Recovery
4. Spatial Disorientation
Erroneous sense of one’s
position and motion relative
to the plane of the earth’s
surface
A state characterized by a pilot’s
erroneous perception of the
magnitude of any aircraft control or
performance parameter
8. What senses are used
during flight?
Vision
Motion, Objects, References, Flight
Instruments
Vestibular system - Inner ear
Angular Acceleration - SSC
Linear Acceleration - Otilith Organs
Gravity - Otilith Organs
Proprioceptive Input - Seat of the Pants
Linear Acceleration, Gravity & Motion of Body
Parts
Hearing - Limited
9. Vestibular Apparatus
Semicircular Canals
Monitors Angular Accelerations
Three Located in Each Ear - Yaw, Pitch
& Roll Axis
Located in the Bony Labyrinth
12. Vestibular Apparatus
Otilith Organs
Monitor Linear Accelerations and
Gravity
Also Located in the Bony
Labyrinth
Contain Small Sensory Hairs
Which Project Into a Thin
Membrane
13. Forward Acceleration Centrifugal / Centripetal
True Sensation True Sensation True Sensation
Function of the Otolith Organs
The Otolith Organs Are Stimulated by Gravity and Linear Accelerations
False Sensation of Backward False Sensation of Upright
Upright Tilt Forward Tilt Backward
14. Proprioceptive Input: Seat
of the Pants
Stretch receptors
Musculotendinous
tension
Pressure
Joint angular motion
16. The Seat-of-the-Pants Sense
Force of Gravity
Gravity
Plus
Centrifical
Force
While we are in contact with the earth, the pull of
gravity squeezes pressure sensors in the various
portions of the body, thus telling us in which
direction the earth lies.
In flight, however, G-forces combine with the pull
of gravity to make the seat-of-the-pants sense
completely unreliable as an attitude indicator.
19. Types of Spatial
Disorientation
Type I: Unrecognized
Most Deadly Type
Type II: Recognized
Realizes Disorientation but Is Perhaps
Unable to Determine the Source of the
Problem
Safe Operation Usually Accomplished,
but With Extra Concentration.
Type III: Incapacitating
20. Recognized
Occurs frequently, but is
usually brief
Sensory conflict is resolved
by performing an
instrument cross-check and
believing the instruments
21. Unrecognized
Occurs when pilot is busy,
pressed, stressed,
preoccupied, or distracted
New aircraft ride very smooth
and don’t “talk” to pilot
USAF’s prime concern is
preventing this type of SDO
23. Incapacitating
Significant disorientation stress
Nystagmus - severe
Thinking process breaks down,
rational thought processes cease,
aircrew may freeze or panic
EJECT, if capable
24. Vestibular Illusions
The Leans
Somtogyral Illusions
Graveyard Spin and Spiral
Coriolis Illusion
Giant Hand Phenomenon
Nystagmus
Otolith Stimulation
Somatogravic
Elevator Illusion
26. Leans
Most common sensory illusion
SSC stimulation
Unrecognized slow rate of roll
Correction (exceeds threshold of SSC)
Perceives roll in opposite direction
Response
Spatial disoriented and roll plane
Trust the attitude indicator and regain
orientation
27. False interpretations of rotation,
lack of rotation or rate of rotation
Spin or spiral greater than 20
seconds
SSC equilibrate to the rotary
motion
Spin is stopped and interpreted as
spin in the opposite direction
Somatogyral Illusions
(Graveyard Spin or Spiral)
28.
29. Coriolis Illusion
Most dangerous of vestibular illusions
Overwhelming disorientation
Occurs during constant turn and quick
head movement
Gives illusion of a rotation plane
movement when no does not exist
Prevention is the best: No sudden head
movements during turns
31. Giant Hand Phenomenon
Occurs after a steep banked turn or
CORIOLIS illusion
Aircraft is in some attitude other
than planned
Attempts to correct don’t work
because hand is subconsciously
making the inputs
Usually occurs during instrument
conditions
32. Nystagmus
Stimulation of SSC cause a
repetitive sweeping eye motion
Results in a temporary inability
to properly focus on objects
Type III incapacitating, can last
18--40 seconds
33. Low Altitude Mishaps
12% of all flying is planned
LOWAT
12% of Class A Mishaps
Less than 1% spent in turns
45% of LOWAT mishaps occur in
turns
34. Somatosensory Illusions
“Seat-of-the-pants”
Provides input that conflicts with
actual aircraft
G-loads during steep turn can’t be
distinguished from a recovery from a
dive
G-Excess Effect, Maintaining positive
G through the inverted
40. Recovery From SDO
Visual dominance in VMC
Horizon
Reliable cues (outside & inside cockpit)
When in doubt - instruments
Visual dominance in IMC
Instruments
Communicate
Conditions restricting instrument use
Maintaining position on lead
Extremely busy (Temporal Distortion)
Failure to use instruments
41. Preventing SDO
Training and professional knowledge of
problems
Experience
Obtained reliable visual references
Minimized head movements
Fly straight and level
Proper mission preparation
Communicate your problem
Sit-down and hold-on
42. Overcoming Spatial
Disorientation
Get on the instruments
Believe the instruments
Minimize head movements
Fly straight and level
Transfer control
Egress if you have capability
43. C - 141B, May 1988
TIME BANK ANGLE G LOAD ALTITUDE HEADING
10:45:18 1.1 FL 260
15o
left
44. C - 141B, May 1988
TIME BANK ANGLE G LOAD ALTITUDE HEADING
10:45:18 1.1 FL 260
15o
left
10:45:40 4.6 FL 207 053
o
110o
45. C - 141B, May 1988
TIME BANK ANGLE G LOAD ALTITUDE HEADING
10:45:18 1.1 FL 260
15o
left
10:45:40 4.6 FL 207 053
o
110o
10:45:54 2.2 16,500 ft 279
o
60o
46. C - 141B, May 1988
TIME BANK ANGLE G LOAD ALTITUDE HEADING
10:46:06 5.5 15,400 ft 225
o
150o
47. C - 141B, May 1988
TIME BANK ANGLE G LOAD ALTITUDE HEADING
10:46:06 5.5 15,400 ft 225
o
150o
10:46:18 4.1 11,500 ft 339
o
37,500 fpm bottoms out
descent
48. C - 141B, May 1988
TIME BANK ANGLE G LOAD ALTITUDE HEADING
10:46:06 5.5 15,400 ft 225
o
150o
10:46:18 4.1 11,500 ft 339
o
37,500 fpm bottoms out
descent
10:46:24 2-3 8-9000 ft 154
o
until cloud left turn
exit
70-80o
49. G EXCESS EFFECT
OTOLITH PLANE
30o
O
G EXCESS EFFECT
ACTUAL ACFT
PLANE
PERCEIVED
ACFT PLANE
G
1 G
>1 G
O
51. Nothing in the world can take the place of
persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more
common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost
a proverb. Education will not; the world is full
of educated derelicts. Persistence and
determination alone are omnipotent. The
slogan “press on” has solved and always will
solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge