A Helicopter Simulator Assessment of Pilot Head Movement during Various Phases of Flight

The opto-kinetic cervico reflex (OKCR) is a recently hypothesized visually driven reflex that serves to stabilize the image of the external horizon on the retina during high performance aircraft roll maneuvers. Although anecdotally reported as occurring, head tilt during helicopter flight has not be...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Braithwaite, Malcolm G, Alvarez, Eduardo A, Jones, Heber D, Higdon, Alford A, Groh, Shannon L
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AS879
FLIGHT MANEUVERS
FLIGHT SIMULATION
HEAD MOVEMENTS
HEAD ROLL
HEAD(ANATOMY)
Helicopters
HORIZON
IMC(INSTRUMENT METOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS)
IMPACT
INSTRUMENT FLIGHT
MOTION
NIGHT VISION DEVICES
OKCR(OPTO-KINETIC AND CERVIX REFLEX)
ORIENTATION(DIRECTION)
PE602787A
PERCEPTION
PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORIENTATION
PILOTS
REFLEXES
RETINA
ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
Stress Physiology
VISUAL PERCEPTION
WU177
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Summary:The opto-kinetic cervico reflex (OKCR) is a recently hypothesized visually driven reflex that serves to stabilize the image of the external horizon on the retina during high performance aircraft roll maneuvers. Although anecdotally reported as occurring, head tilt during helicopter flight has not been formally studied. Such research is required to determine the full impact and significance it may have on a rotary-wing aviator's flying performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between horizon position and perception of orientation, and thus generate vital information to assess whether this reflex plays an important role in spatial disorientation. Twenty volunteer pilots participated in a UH-60 flight simulator study to examine the effects of this reflex. The results confirm that the OKCR occurs during simulated helicopter flight, both with and without night vision goggles. As with previous studies, head roll increased during flight under visual meteorological conditions in relation to increasing aircraft roll angle up to a maximum sustainable level and then remained constant. Head roll did not occur during flight under instrument meteorological conditions. Various aspects that impact rotary-wing operations are discussed, and recommendations made for future research.