There are a number of controlled aircraft maneuvers a pilot can perform to experiment with spatial disorientation. While each maneuver will normally create a specific illusion, any false sensation is an effective demonstration of disorientation. Thus, even if there is no sensation during any of these maneuvers, the absence of sensation is still an effective demonstration in that it shows the inability to detect bank or roll. There are several objectives in demonstrating these various maneuvers.

1.        They teach pilots to understand the susceptibility of the human system to spatial disorientation.
2.        They demonstrate that judgments of aircraft attitude based on bodily sensations are frequently false.
3.        They can help to lessen the occurrence and degree of disorientation through a better understanding of the relationship between aircraft motion, head movements, and resulting disorientation.
4.        They can help to instill a greater confidence in relying on flight instruments for assessing true aircraft attitude.

A pilot should not attempt any of these maneuvers at low altitudes, or in the absence of an instructor pilot or an appropriate safety pilot.

Climbing While Accelerating
With the pilot's eyes closed, the instructor pilot maintains approach airspeed in a straight-and-level attitude for several seconds, and then accelerates while maintaining straight-and-level attitude. The usual illusion during this maneuver, without visual references, will be that the aircraft is climbing.

Climbing While Turning
With the pilot's eyes still closed and the aircraft in a straight-and-level attitude, the instructor pilot now executes, with a relatively slow entry, a well-coordinated turn of about 1.5 positive G (approximately 50° bank) for 90°. While in the turn, without outside visual references and under the effect of the slight positive G, the usual illusion produced is that of a climb. Upon sensing the climb, the pilot should immediately open the eyes and see that a slowly established, coordinated turn produces the same feeling as a climb.

Diving While Turning
This sensation can be created by repeating the previous procedure, with the exception that the pilot's eyes should be kept closed until recovery from the turn is approximately one-half completed. With the eyes closed, the usual illusion will be that the aircraft is diving.

Tilting to Right or Left
While in a straight-and-level attitude, with the pilot's eyes closed, the instructor pilot executes a moderate or slight skid to the left with wings level. The usual illusion is that the body is being tilted to the right.

Reversal of Motion
This illusion can be demonstrated in any of the three planes of motion. While straight-and-level, with the pilot's eyes closed, the instructor pilot smoothly and positively rolls the aircraft to approximately a 45°-bank attitude while maintaining heading and pitch attitude. The usual illusion is a strong sense of rotation in the opposite direction. After this illusion is noted, the pilot should open the eyes and observe that the aircraft is in a banked attitude.

Diving or Rolling Beyond the Vertical Plane
This maneuver may produce extreme disorientation. While in straight-and-level flight, the pilot should sit normally, either with eyes closed or gaze lowered to the floor. The instructor pilot starts a positive, coordinated roll toward a 30° or 40° angle of bank. As this is in progress, the pilot should tilt the head forward, look to the right or left, then immediately return the head to an upright position. The instructor pilot should time the maneuver so the roll is stopped just as the pilot returns his/her head upright. An intense disorientation is usually produced by this maneuver, with the pilot experiencing the sensation of falling downwards into the direction of the roll.

In the descriptions of these maneuvers, the instructor pilot is doing the flying, but having the pilot do the flying can also make a very effective demonstration. The pilot should close his/her eyes and tilt the head to one side. The instructor pilot tells the pilot what control inputs to perform. The pilot then attempts to establish the correct attitude or control input with eyes still closed and head still tilted. While it is clear the pilot has no idea of the actual attitude, he/she will react to what the senses are saying. After a short time, the pilot will become disoriented and the instructor pilot then tells the pilot to look up and recover. The benefit of this exercise is the pilot actually experiences the disorientation while flying the aircraft.

Demonstrating Spatial Disorientation—Safety Check
These demonstrations should never be conducted at low altitudes, or without an instructor pilot or appropriate safety pilot onboard.

Kawasaki BK117 A-4 ZK-HJK , c/n 1020 , at the Garden City Christchurch heliport, filling in for the Westpac Trust BK117 ZK-HJC which is down for routine servicing.

On the western side of the airport was the Hughes 369HS ZK-HLM being packed into a container for shipment to Australia by Heli Maintenaince.

This helicopter is now 32 years old (nearly as old as me) and reduces the number of registered 500C's in NZ to around 25.

Its c/n of 63-0488S tells us that it was constructed in June (the 6th month ) of 1973 (the 3 being the year) and is the 488th "S" model built.

It was originally a James Aviation import and arrived in August 1980. Its most recent operator was Aviation West out of Double Hills Station in the Upper Rakaia.

It has been replaced at Double Hills by the Hughes 369D ZK-HYY ex Garden of Eden Helicopters - which is now minus all its Star Wars art work. (see pics in Blogs of late February).

Garden of Eden will be receiving a new NOTAR in about a months time - So we can expect the above HYY to become something else so that Barry can retain his HYY letters; and we can look forward to another interesting paint scheme.

The above pic taken on 05-04-08 at Garden City H/C.

Further to the earlier post, herewith some more on G-KIRK (pictured in the Warbirds Hanger @ Ardmore Apr 04).

From November 2004

04Nov04 G-KIRK Piper J3C-65 Cub. Maurice J. Kirk (c/n 12490). Kerikeri to Norfolk Island, to Lord Howe Island on 6^th, from ?? to Coolangatta on 8^th, from Caloundra to Rockhampton on 9^th, at Darwin on 12^th (then required an engine change before test flight on 24 April 2005), to Dili-Comoro (East Timor) on 25 April, to Borneo and Balikpapan (Indonesia) on 27^th, to Lawas (Malaysia) and Labuan (Malaysia) on 28^th, to Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) on 3 May, to Puerto Princesa (Philippines) on 6^th, to Manila on 7^th, to Laoag (Philippines) and Kaohsiung (Taiwan) on 11^th, to Taipei on 13^th, to Cheju Island (South Korea) and Yang Yang on 17^th. Pilot re-enacted first solo east-west crossing of Tasman Sea by Sir Francis Chichester in 1931.

Whitianga based Cessna 185C ZK-JHS was spotted at Ardmore this week sporting the addition of a ZK prefix (in different colours) following its stint in Australia which saw it arrive at Kerikeri from Norfolk Island on 02May08.

Doug Brooker's Spitfire ZK-WDQ is now making regular flights from Ardmore and it was great to capture it earlier in the week following a 30minute local flight.

Advanced Flight took delivery of their latest Eurocopter EC130, ZK-HKX/2 (c/n 4376) and it was registered on 29May08. This machine replaces one of the same type with the same registration and c/n 3815 which was deregistered as exported on 15Apr08.

ZK-HKX/2 (with temporary rego) departing Eurocopter's Ardmore facility

ZK-HKX/1 back in December 2005.

BH Airlines
Unfortunately with a lack of aircraft the airline was unable to start recently announced services to London or Skopje however there is some good news from the Bosnian carrier. The airline will, on June 10, commence flights to Stuttgart from Mostar. Relying on the diaspora and some tourism the flights could be successful. Meanwhile the airline has continued cooperation with Jat Airways by continuing 3 weekly code share flights to Belgrade (operated by Jat Airways). Jat Airways flies daily to Sarajevo.

Croatia Airlines
Croatia is as usual spreading its wings this summer especially in the region. Competition for regional routes will now be high between Croatian and Jay. Croatia Airlines is starting flights to the Montenegrin capital Podgorica on June 17, 2008. The airline starts services to Priština on June 16 (in the disputed breakaway Serbian region of Kosovo) where Jat is currently not allowed to operate.

Montenegro Airlines
The Montenegrin national carrier is this year, with a brand new Embraer E195 (which arrives this Sunday – stay tuned to this blog), starting flights to a couple of European cities. In the next few days the airline will start daily services to Frankfurt while new destinations in the airline’s network include London from June 15 and Milano from July (although a date has not yet been specified). The airline is also hoping to start flights to Brussels, Moscow and Berlin however this might be just a bit too optimistic for this summer.