Detection of unrecognized spatial disorientation: A theoretical perspective

Area of Science:

• Aviation safety
• Human factors in flight

Background:

• Spatial disorientation (SD) is a significant challenge for pilots.
• Current methods fail to detect Type I (unrecognized) SD effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing SD problems and evaluation methods.
• To propose an improved method for detecting unrecognized SD.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of subjective questionnaires and behavioral evaluation methods.
• Development of a novel approach using subjective reports and center of pressure (CoP).

Main Results:

• The proposed method aids pilots in recognizing physical and sensory changes during unrecognized SD.
• Enhanced assessment of SD is achieved.

Conclusions:

• This evaluation method offers support for developing countermeasures against unrecognized SD.
• Aims to reduce flight accidents attributed to unrecognized SD.