SDT

Spatial Disorientation Training and Demonstrations

Spatial Disorientation (SD) is the inability to correctly interpret aircraft attitude, altitude or airspeed in relation to the earth or other points of reference.

Needs

‘To err is human’

Background

Human beings make mistakes that is a simple fact. SD and misperception generally occurs when a pilot cannot correctly interpret an aircraft Motion, Attitude or Position (MAP).

Human beings have maps to correct orientation for many centuries. Aviation presents unique challenges whereby the earth or a specific point of interest in flight may become lost and perception does not match reality.

This presents the pilot with significant risks; you can mitigate these risks with training and raising the awareness of the responses of the human vestibular, proprioceptive and visual systems and their relationships.

Specific examples are:

The combination of visual-vestibular ‘confusion’ leads to SD. How quickly a pilot can interpret and correct an aircraft departure from normal flight depends on his/her experience.

There are three SD categories:

Type 1 SD – UNRECOGNISED – instruments/normal – pilots flies into the ground/hill loss of situation awareness – fatal
Type 2 SD – RECOGNISED – pilot perceives problem but may be convinced the instruments are malfunctioning
Type 3 SD – INCAPACITATING – pilot has extreme sensation of movement and fails to regain orientation, using visual or instrument cues.

Why do you need SD training?

SD is a risk for both, fixed wing and helicopters pilots. They must be aware of SD illusions
20 % of military mishaps due to SD and 90 % of SD accidents are fatal
One of the keys to prevent SD accidents is education and to demonstrate SD illusions in a safe environment
Aircrew must experience, recognise and recover from SD phenomena during simulated flight and identify situations where SD is likely to happen and become aware of SD in real flight situations
The importance of SD training cannot be overemphasised because pilots are unaware of orientation of the aircraft and most of the time pilots are not aware of SD
To avoid SD incidents by correctly referencing instruments and to learn measures to counteract SD

Solution

Mission-based SD training

AMST offers a complete training solution based on many years of experience and courses specifically designed to meet the needs of discerning customers.

Courses developed by subject matter experts having a military and a commercial aviation background form the heartbeat of this training. All relevant illusions for fixed-wing pilots as well as helicopter pilots are available.

Subjects covered:

The practical application of the above-mentioned topics ensures that students experience a broad spectrum of visual and vestibular illusions. The ‘building-block’ approach ensures whether pilots are going through basic training or are at the refresher/recurrent training stage that ensures that the training scenarios are relevant.

Benefits

Improves flight safety significantly

Accident data and incident reporting indicates that spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness may have as high as 80 % pre-cursor and associated causal factors of most accidents.
The SD training at AMST is unique in that goes beyond ‘the basics’. Students receive comprehensive briefings and experience both passive and active (self-induced) illusions as directed by the instructor.
The linked mission based SD scenarios have proved to be a very effective method of conducting this very important aspect of ab-initio training.
Any training that can reduce the incidence of SD will have a beneficial impact on flight safety.

Feedback of students:

SD training as endorsed by Swedish Research Institute as being very effective. This independent report was the result of an in-depth study using a tactile sensor to measure response by students. It was found that repeated exposure to vestibular stimuli in certain circumstances reduced the susceptibility of the subject to the vestibular event
Positive feedback from a fighter pilot who experienced a visual-vestibular event whilst inverted in cloud reported that he was convinced he would have ejected had it not been for the SD training received at AMST – difficult to prove but an honest comment from an experienced aviator.