October 15 is Throw Back Third Saturday with the retro screening of the FAA classic film DISORIENTATION.
It is Throw Back Third Saturday with this month’s screening of the retro 1974 classic FAA film Disorientation.
Spatial orientation defines our natural ability to maintain our body orientation and/or posture in relation to the surrounding environment (physical space) at rest and during motion. Genetically speaking, humans are designed to maintain spatial orientation on the ground. The three-dimensional environment of flight makes spatial orientation difficult, and sometimes impossible to achieve. Statistics show that between 5 to 10% of all general aviation accidents can be attributed to spatial disorientation, 90% of which are fatal. (FAA Medical Facts For Pilots)
The safety seminar will review the types of human sensory systems and provide practical steps for pilots to prevent disorientation in flight. As the days become shorter, and the clouds begin to form over the Pacific Northwest, pilots face greater risk for spatial disorientation, VFR into IMC, and Controlled Flight into Terrain. A proficient pilot is always learning.