Bednarek, H. 1, 2
1 The Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland
2 University of Lodz, Poland
This study examined efficiency of pilots' behavior in conditions of spatial disorientation. It has been assumed that visual illusions tends to produce spatial disorientation. Spatial disorientation was analyzed in context of dependent vs independent style of perception, efficiency of attention and working memory, total air time, age and type of the aircraft. 66 pilots participated in the experiment (air-raid 1017.6 hours +/- 797.6; age 32.25; +/- 6.64). Efficiency of execution of flight profile has been defined on simulator HYPERION based on indicators of course (variability of course, asymmetry of course). Cognitive processes were researched by means of computer tasks: DIVA, SWATT, MMATT; field dependence - EFT. It appears that visual illusion influence the efficiency of pilot's behavior. The research shows that weak inhibition mechanisms and higher susceptibility to interference (selective attention), lower efficiency of working memory (low efficiency in updating, low accuracy trade-off) influence the spatial disorientation. The total air time, age and the type of the aircraft did not have an impact on the spatial disorientation.