Vertigo as a Cause of Pilot Error in Jet Aircraft

摘要

Vertigo is well known to pilots of aircraft, and although extensive studies have been made of its characteristics in conventional aircraft, no data are available on its characteristics during flight in jet aircraft. It was the purpose of the study to obtain information on vertigo as experienced by jet pilots. The pilots interviewed were 137 navy and marine corps pilots who were assigned to jet aircraft at the time of the interview. Individual interviews and a check list of vertigo experiences were used. It was found that 96 per cent of the pilots had experienced vertigo in jets and that the nature of vertigo was essentially the same as found in propeller driven aircraft. The most frequent illusory experience involved confusion with regard to the attitude and motion of the aircraft. The causes and prevention of vertigo were found to be essentially the same for jets as for conventional aircraft. The jet pilots believe that certain unique aspects of jet flight may contribute to difficulties in spatial orientation. (Author)