Recommendations to Enhance Spatial Disorientation Training for the Canadian Forces.
Abstract
Spatial disorientation (SD) in flight wastes millions of dollars worth of defence capability and continues to kill aircrew. A number of CF (Canadian Forces) surveys have identified SD as the most detrimental of all listed aircraft and human factor issues in terms of its effects on flight safety and operational effectiveness. Two retrospective studies by Hartzell and Cheung et al. confirmed that SD was a significant contributing factor in 12 (between 1968-78) and 14 (between 1982-92) accidents respectively. Following a series of SD implicated mishaps in the CF-18 between 1986-90; the Commander of AIRCOM directed the initiation of ground-based disorientation training and the acquisition of an effective ground-based SD trainer. However, without a recent mishap, on-going fiscal restraint and other factors, the support and resources for acquiring an effective ground-based trainer are not available. In order to solve the SD problem, we believe that research on underlying mechanisms is productive and that hardware improvements will eventually provide substantial additional protection. Research and technological improvements that deal with SD will require a great deal of effort and money to implement and is a distant goal. For the near term, the only practical approach is to enhance SD awareness training for pilots and should be addressed without delay. This report reviews current SD training practices in the CF, and makes recommendations to enhance spatial disorientation training on the ground and in-flight. It is hoped that this report will generate continued discussions among pilots, aeromedical instructors, flight surgeons and research scientists in maintaining progress towards mounting an attack on SD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA345707
Entities
People
- Bob Cheung
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada