Spatial Disorientation A Survey Of U S Army Rotary Wing Aircrew

A survey of 299 aircrew in current flying' practice was performed at five U.S. Army airfields within CONUS. Respondents were asked a number of questions about their worst ever episode of spatial disorientation (SD) and their worst episode in the 4 months prior to the survey. They also were asked to classify episodes as minor, significant, or severe according to the threat to flight safety. Opinions also were sought on various aircraft types and flight conditions. In the final part of the questionnaire, they were asked about their experience of break-off and giant hand phenomena. Analysis of the data showed that 78 percent had suffered SD during their flying career (8 percent had suffered severely enough to put flight safety at risk). Twenty-two percent had suffered in the 4 months prior to completing the questionnaire (2 percent severely enough to put flight safety at risk). In 33 percent of worst ever episodes, the event had affected conduct of the mission while flying accuracy had been affected in 64 percent. (The figures for the 4-month data were 35 percent and 68 percent.) Brownout, whiteout, and inadvertent entry to instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were the most easily identifiable source of severe episodes of SD, but they accounted for 13 percent of the worst ever episodes. The leans accounted for 44 percent of episodes. Few other episodes could be linked to well known problems. Aircrew were not initially aware of being disoriented in 43 percent of worst ever episodes (38 percent of episodes when they were looking out of the aircraft cockpit). Experience had no apparent protective effect against either the incidence or severity of episodes.

Consultant eye surgeon, Eric Arnott, was one of the original pioneers of small-incision surgery. He was the first to perform modern Phaco surgery in Europe and designed lens implants that have restored the sight to millions of patients. The word autobiography is simply insufficient to describe this book, which is a remarkable testament to the life, works and marriage of a remarkable man. The book details the original invention of the lens implant by Harold Ridley, who Eric worked with in his early years of medical training. It goes on to follow the development of small-incision Phaco surgery, instigated by Charlie Kelman, and the disinterest and contempt held by the peers of these ophthalmologic pioneers. The author describes every advance in this field of ophthalmology in fascinating detail. The importance to Eric of religion, spirituality, family life and helping others less fortunate than himself is reinforced in this enthralling and at times very amusing read. Arnott draws you into his narrative, rousing thoughts of disbelief as you are compelled to continue reading, each new chapter and event in his life proving as fascinating as the last. Entertaining and illuminating, A New Beginning in Sight provides a detailed history of ophthalmology and is essential reading for ophthalmologists, other specialists and non-specialists alike.

The incorporation of technology into aviation has been exponential. Advancements in microelectronics, stealth technology, engine design, and electronic sensors and displays have converted simple aircraft into formidable flying machines. In this book, recognised experts in aviation helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) summarise 25 years of knowledge and experience in the area of HMD visual, acoustic, and biodynamic performance, and user interface issues such as sizing, fitting, and emergency egress.

Vision is the dominant sense used by pilots and visual misperception has been identified as the primary contributing factor in numerous aviation mishaps, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and major resource loss. Despite physiological limitations for sensing and perceiving their aviation environment, pilots can often make the required visual judgments with a high degree of accuracy and precision. At the same time, however, visual illusions and misjudgments have been cited as the probable cause of numerous aviation accidents, and in spite of technological and instructional efforts to remedy some of the problems associated with visual perception in aviation, mishaps of this type continue to occur. Clearly, understanding the role of visual perception in aviation is key to improving pilot performance and reducing aviation mishaps. This book is the first dedicated to the role of visual perception in aviation, and it provides a comprehensive, single-source document encompassing all aspects of aviation visual perception. Thus, this book includes the foundations of visual and vestibular sensation and perception; how visual perceptual abilities are assessed in pilots; the pilot's perspective of visual flying; a summary of human factors research on the visual guidance of flying; examples of specific visual and vestibular illusions and misperceptions; mishap analyses from military, commercial and general aviation; and, finally, how this knowledge is being used to better understand visual perception in aviation's next generation. Aviation Visual Perception: Research, Misperception and Mishaps is intended to be used for instruction in academia, as a resource for human factors researchers, design engineers, and for instruction and training in the pilot community.