The British Army Air Corps in-flight spatial disorientation demonstration sortie

Following didactic instruction, most aircrew are able to experience some of the disorientating illusions and limitations of the orientational senses in a variety of ground-based devices. In order to reinforce instruction in spatial disorientation (SD) within the environment in which they operate, British Army Air Corps helicopter pilots also receive an airborne demonstration of the limitations of their orientation senses. Since 1982, a specific SD sortie has been programmed towards the end of the basic rotary-wing phase of flight training approximately 6 weeks after the aeromedical training module, and before students commence rotary-wing instrument flight training. Refresher sorties are flown every 4 years. The conduct of the SD sortie is described in detail. Analysis of helicopter accidents demonstrates that this training is operationally effective by contributing towards the reduction of SD-related mishaps. It is cost-effective and the addition of this type of in-flight demonstration to the aeromedical training syllabus is regarded as being of great value to British Army helicopter aircrew. Similar instruction could be readily adopted by other services.