Simulator sickness among helicopter pilots: Incidence, threshold and severity using the SSQ

Area of Science:

• Aviation Psychology
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Flight simulators are crucial for aircrew training.
• Simulator sickness, a form of motion sickness, can occur during training.
• Previous studies reported a wide range of simulator sickness incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of simulator sickness in rotary-wing pilots.
• To establish a threshold value for simulator sickness using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ).

Main Methods:

• 207 helicopter pilots (CH-53 and UH-60) completed the SSQ.
• A threshold score of 20 on the SSQ was defined for simulator sickness.
• Incidence, average SSQ scores, and correlations with age and training hours were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Simulator sickness was reported by 51.7% of pilots.
• The average SSQ score was 32.7.
• A significant negative correlation existed between pilot age and SSQ scores.

Conclusions:

• More than half of helicopter pilots experience simulator sickness.
• An SSQ score of 20 is a validated threshold for simulator sickness in this population.