[Illusions of one's position in space of vestibular origin in atmospheric flight]

Vestibular illusions (incidence, pattern, manifestation, negative effect on pilot's activity) that occur in the atmospheric flight were studied. A special questionnaire was used to interview anonymously 484 flying crewmembers. Spatial illusions were detected in 71.1% of the crewmembers; they developed in 50.6% when turns were performed and they were perceived in 76.2% as a false bank. Over 50% (54.3%) of the crewmembers interviewed reported that spatial illusions adversely affected pilot's performance and 3.6% of them indicated that they adversely influenced the flight program as a whole. Spatial illusions can be generated by various factors which should be taken into account in order to improve countermeasures against spatial illusions in the flying personnel.