An evaluation of the British Army spatial disorientation sortie in U.S. Army aviation

Following didactic instruction, most aircrew are able to experience some of the disorienting illusions and limitations of the orientation 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 prior to rotary-wing instrument flight training. The objective of this assessment was to determine whether the SD demonstration sortie would be an effective adjunct in training aircrew in SD in the U.S. Army.

There were 45 aviators and training personnel who experienced the sortie and gave their opinion in questionnaires.

The following conclusions were made: the maneuvers performed in the SD demonstration sortie, and the sortie overall, were extremely effective at demonstrating the limitations of the orientation senses; the SD sortie attracted a significantly higher rating in its effectiveness to train aviators in SD than all the currently available methods; the introduction of the sortie into the initial flight training syllabus would be a distinct enhancement to the SD training of aviators and associated personnel; and the introduction of the sortie into refresher training in field units would also be an advantage.

Other services are encouraged to consider this enhancement to the SD training of aviators.