The
report said between 90 to 100 percent of aircraft pilots experienced
“spatial disorientation” (SD) — one of the most common factors in plane
crashes.
Aviation
medicine specialist Dr. David Newman said pilots were commonly the
victims of strange illusions that could be dangerous, and have been
linked to between 15 and 26 percent of fatal crashes worldwide.
Some
of the most common illusions experienced by pilots included feeling as
though the plane was falling when it was slowing down, a false
sensation of the aircraft “rolling” and a sense that the plane was not
turning when it actually was.
Newman said that there were much stranger illusions experienced by pilots.
“In
some cases, pilots may feel that they are sitting out on the wing of
their aircraft, watching themselves flying the aircraft,” Newman said
in the report.
“The
knife edge illusion gives the pilot a sensation that the aircraft is
precariously positioned in space, and extremely sensitive to control
inputs. By contrast, the giant hand illusion gives the pilot the
opposite sensation, that the aircraft is intolerable of control inputs
and seemingly immovable in the air, as if held aloft by a giant hand.”
Newman said the illusions often occurred when pilots were not busy flying the plane.
“While
seemingly bizarre, these illusions are generally associated with high
altitude flight where the pilot has a relatively low level workload.
Under such ‘fish-bowl’ conditions, the brain can wander and generate
these strange illusions.”
The report said that pilots should be aware that they would experience SD sooner or later.
“If
a pilot flies long enough as a career or even a hobby there is almost
no chance that he or she will escape experiencing at least one episode
of SD,” the report said.
The
ATSB report said that pilots should take measures to reduce the impact
of SD by flying when fit, not flying under the influence of alcohol or
medication, increasing awareness of spatial disorientation illusions
and planning for their possible appearance.
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