TC 3-04.93 Flashcards
What are the two categories of fascination (fixation) in flying?
Task saturation and target fixation.
What are the three indicators that may be assessed during flight as a gauge to indicate Spatial Disorientation?
Task saturation (especially “both heads in the cockpit”).
Meteorological conditions conducive to DVE.
Decreasing flight visibility and lack of visual cues.
When is altitude stress the most evident and why?
At altitudes below 5,000 feet (1,524 meters). This is where the greatest atmospheric changes occur and crewmembers are subject to problems resulting from trapped gas.
What are the effects of fatigue on performance?
Reaction-time changes
Reduced attention
Diminished memory
Changes in mood and social interaction
Impaired communication
Briefly describe each of the 4 somatogyral illusions.
Leans - It is an illusion of bank and occurs with a false sensation of angular displacement about the roll axis (sensation that aircraft is one-wing low). If the pilot were to roll into a bank in a slow sub threshold roll, he or she may fail to perceive the aircraft is no longer flying straight and level (although the attitude indicator will show a bank).
Graveyard Spiral – As an example, if a pilot enters a turn of moderate or steep bank angle and remains in it for several seconds, the semicircular canals (which respond only to changes in angular velocity, not constant angular velocity) will eventually reach equilibrium (no stimulus) and no motion will be perceived. Upon abruptly recovering from the bank, the pilot will undergo angular deceleration, which is sensed by the semicircular canals. He or she may have a strong sensation of initiating a bank in the opposite direction even if the flight instruments contradict that perception.
Coriolis Illusion- The combined effects of “cross-coupling” of canals may create a perception of motion within a new orthogonal axis (and may give rise to an overwhelming “tumbling” sensation). This is relatively easy to demonstrate in a rotating chair, and (fortunately) uncommon in flight. However, it may occur, for example, when a pilot makes an abrupt head movement to change a radio or transponder code while flying in poor visual conditions such as in clouds or at night.
Post-Roll (Gillingham) Illusion– The pilot may initiate a roll rate into a coordinated turn, complete the maneuver, but then incorrectly provide control input to add additional bank in the same direction with the misperception of a decrease in bank or roll-reversal. This also sometimes called a “roll-after effect.”
What are the types of spatial disorientation and which is the most dangerous?
TYPE I (UNRECOGNIZED)
Type I SD is the most dangerous type of disorientation.
TYPE II (RECOGNIZED)
TYPE III (INCAPACITATING)
What monocular cue may be used to judge runway/landing area alignment when flying with the PNVS?
Linear perspective: Parallel lines tend to converge as distance from the observer increases.
What monocular cue may be used to judge approach angle to a runway when flying with the PNVS?
Apparent foreshortening: A shallow approach angle will make the runway appear more foreshortened while a steep approach angle will make the true shape of the runway more apparent.
What are the 3 types of Spatial Disorientation?
Types I, II, and II (Unrecognized, recognized, incapacitating).
While flying “The Bag” the P* drifts laterally to the right while performing a left hovering turn. During the turn, the P* announces that he/she is correcting the drift, but no input is made. At the completion of the hovering turn, the P* acknowledges the resultant drift and hovers back to the point of origin. What type of spatial disorientation has occurred?
Type II, Recognized; the pilot is aware of the drift, but the illusion of a proper turn may be so powerful he/she is unable to correct the drift.
While performing an autorotation to a short, narrow landing strip using the NVS, the P* impacts the runway at 80 knots/1,900 fpm, resulting in damage to the aircraft. Post-accident investigation reveals the pilot initiated a deceleration at 30 feet prior to striking the runway. What type of spatial disorientation may have been suffered by the pilot?
Type I, Unrecognized. The pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft during the autorotation but failed to accurately perceive his/her altitude above the ground
