Spatial disorientation demonstration flight for U.S. Army aviators in the TH-67, UH-1 and UH-60 helicopters

Spatial disorientation (SD) occurs when a pilot misperceives the position, motion, or attitude of his or her aircraft. In wartime, the risk of SD is heightened by the extra pressure on sensory and cognitive resources. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, 81 percent of U.S. Army aviation nighttime accidents were ascribed to SD. An important countermeasure to SD is the aviator's awareness of his physiological vulnerability to SD and the circumstances in which SD is most likely to occur. Consequently, all military aviators must attend courses of instruction in SD. Most student pilots are given instruction during their flight training on how to overcome the effects of SD, but few air services provide a specific SD demonstration sortie to augment ground-based training. An in-flight demonstration of SD reinforces knowledge of the limitations of the orientation senses in flight and enhances aircrew awareness of potentially disorientating situations. Due to anticipated funding and asset changes at the U.S. Army Aviation Center (USAAVNC), Fort Rucker, Alabama, flight training may be affected and undergo revision. In an effort to be responsive to future training requirements and as the developer of this SD flight training, USAARL is publishing this report containing the SD demonstration flight lesson plans for the TH-67, UH-1, and UH-60 helicopters.