Orientation and disorientation in aviation

Extreme Physiology & Medicine

John Richard Rollin Stott¹ 

[1] Aviation Medicine, King’s College London, Strand, London, England, WC2R 2LS, UK

关键词: Aircraft accidents;    Vestibular system;    Oculogravic;    Somatogravic;    Spatial disorientation;   

Others  :  817465
DOI  :  10.1186/2046-7648-2-2

 received in 2012-08-02, accepted in 2012-11-09,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

On the ground, the essential requirement to remain orientated is a largely unconscious activity. In flight, orientation requires a conscious effort by the pilot particularly when the visual environment becomes degraded and a deceptive force environment becomes the frame of reference. Furthermore, an unusual force environment can determine the apparent location of objects within a limited visual scene, sometimes with disastrous consequences. This review outlines the sources of pilot disorientation that arise from the visual and force environment of flight and their interaction. It challenges the value of the traditional illusion-based approach to the subject both to aircrew and to surveys of disorientation. Also, it questions the emphasis on the shortcomings of vestibular function as the physiological basis for disorientation. While military accidents from all causes have shown a decline, there has been no corresponding reduction in accidents involving disorientation, 85% of which are the results of unrecognised disorientation. This finding has implications for the way in which pilots are taught about disorientation in the interest of enhanced flight safety. It argues for a greater use of conventional fixed base simulators to create disorientating scenarios rather than complex motion devices to create unusual sensations.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Stott; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Henn V, Young LR: Ernst Mach on the vestibular organ 100 years ago. Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 1975, 37:138-148.
• [2]Van Wulfften Palthe PM: Function of the deeper sensibility and of the vestibular organs in flying. Acta OtoLaryngologica 1922, 4:415-448.
• [3]NZALPA: The Erebus story. the loss of TE901. http://www.erebus.co.nz/ webcite
• [4]Collar AR: On an aspect of the accident history of aircraft taking off at night. In Aeronautical Research Council, Reports and Memoranda No. 2277. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office; 1949.
• [5]Crawford J: Living without a balancing mechanism. N Engl J Med 1952, 246:458-460.
• [6]Clark B, Graybiel A: Influence of contact cues on the perception of the oculogravic illusion. Acta OtoLaryngologica 1968, 65:373-380.
• [7]Hudspeth AJ: How the ear’s works work. Nature 1989, 341:397-404.
• [8]Steinhausen W: Über Sichtbarmachung und Funktionsprufung der Cupula terminalis in den Bogengangs-ampullen der Labyrinths. Arch. Ges. Physiol 1927, 217:747-754.
• [9]Fernandez C, Goldberg JM: Physiology of peripheral neurons innervating semicircular canals of the squirrel monkey. II. Response to sinusoidal stimulation and dynamics of peripheral vestibular system. J Neurophysiol 1971, 34:661-684.
• [10]AAIB: Report on the accident to Eurocopter EC225 LP Super Puma, G-REDU near the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) Central Production Facility Platform in the North Sea on 18 February 2009. Aircraft Accident Report 1/2011. Hampshire, UK: Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Department for Transport; 2011.
• [11]AAIB: Report on the accident to Aerospatiale SA365N, registration G-BLUN near the North Morecambe gas platform, Morecambe Bay on 27 December 2006. Aircraft Accident Report 7/2008. Hampshire, UK: Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Department for Transport; 2008.
• [12]Sipes WE, Lessard CS: A spatial disorientation survey of experienced instructor pilots. IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology 2000, 19:35-42.
• [13]Holmes SR, Bunting A, Brown DL, Hiatt KL, Braithwaite MG, Harrigan MJ: Survey of spatial disorientation in military pilots and navigators. Aviat Space Environ Med 2003, 74:957-65.
• [14]Bushby AJR: An assessment of the influence of spatial disorientation upon military aircraft accidents from 1983 to 2002. In Thesis. Royal College of Physicians, London, Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine; 2004.
• [15]ICAO: State of global aviation safety. http://www.icao.int/safety/Documents/ICAO_State-of-Global-Safety_web_EN.pdf webcite