ABSTRACT
Spatial Disorientation (SD) has been broadly classified into three main types. These types are Type I (unrecognised), Type II (recognised) and Type III (incapacitating). Several surveys and accident analysis studies have tried to determine the overall prevalence of SD in fast jet pilots. Rather than considering each possible illusion in isolation according to which orientation system is responsible, it is arguably a more helpful approach to consider the illusions that a fast jet pilot might suffer during different phases of flight. The typical take-off in a military fast jet involves significant acceleration and speed, frequently at night, and often in bad weather or other conditions of degraded visibility. In the take-off phase, the somatogravic illusion is arguably the most high-risk illusion. The landing phase does not lead to as many instances of SD as the take-off or in-flight phases. Various factors can affect pilot performance during flight. These include illness, medications of various types, alcohol and fatigue.
