Creating Spatial Disorientation in Flight Simulation

Loss of control associated with an inability of pilots to recover from upsets and unusual attitudes is the leading cause of world-wide commercial jet accidents. A key component in many of these events is pilot spatial disorientation. Improved pilot training in these abnormal flight conditions, including the ability of training simulators to replicate spatial disorientation, is needed to reduce loss of control accidents. Traditional commercial pilot training is conducted with hexapod-based motion systems that are limited in their ability to replicate the motion cues associated with these events. Given these short-comings, how can stakeholders be certain that there is positive transfer of training regarding spatial disorientation from the simulator to flight? To address this question, a team led by Systems Technology, Inc. proposes to create the Spatial Disorientation – Transfer of Training Assessment Library (SD-TOTAL) software application that will provide tools to quantify the ability of flight simulators to replicate spatial disorientation as compared to flight and appropriate spatial disorientation academic information for pilots. A limited flight test and ground simulation program featuring elements of an upset recovery training curriculum will be conducted in Phase I using the Calspan Learjet In-Flight Simulator to demonstrate feasibility of the proposed approach.