Disorientation Phenomena in Naval Helicopter Pilots,
Abstract
The incidence of pilot disorientation in fixed and rotary wing aircraft has been previously investigated, but special orientation problems of naval helicopter pilots engaged in operations at sea and landing on moving platforms have not been previously reported. A questionnaire concerning disorientation was answered anonymously and individually by 104 active naval helicopter pilots. Fifty-six percent indicated one or more episodes of severe disorientation and 8.5 percent indicated having experienced severe disorientation five or more times while piloting helicopters. A number of factors conducive to disorientation were identified. Some precipitating factors appear to be specific to operations over water or over a moving deck, although some of these may well have their counterparts in special operations over land. Other factors are common to land- and sea-based operations and some are common to fixed-wing as well as rotary-wing aircraft. A number of potential countermeasures for various precipitating factors are discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 29, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0786370
Entities
People
- Felix R. Tormes
- Fred E. Guedry Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory