How the black hole illusion environment affects operational performance at different flight phases in aviation

Area of Science:

• Aviation Psychology
• Human Factors in Flight Safety
• Spatial Disorientation Research

Background:

• The black hole illusion (BHI) is a critical subtype of spatial disorientation in aviation.
• Existing research primarily focuses on altitude deviation, with limited analysis across different flight phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze the effects of the BHI on multiple flight parameters during various flight phases.
• To investigate pilot performance and recovery capabilities in simulated BHI conditions.

Main Methods:

• A simulation-based experiment involving 18 participants performing approach and landing tasks.
• Analysis of 14 flight parameters across five key points and three distinct flight phases.
• Comparison of performance in normal versus BHI environments.

Main Results:

• Significant impairment of multiple flight parameters was observed in the BHI environment.
• Pilots exhibited aggressive descent during approach and flew a lower glidepath in the final approach phase.
• Flight stability was compromised, and recovery from hazardous maneuvers was often insufficient.

Conclusions:

• The BHI impacts flight performance differently across flight phases, affecting stability and control.
• This study provides a comprehensive analysis of BHI effects, informing future research and prevention strategies.
• Novel experimental paradigm facilitates more thorough evaluation and mitigation of the black hole illusion.