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Old January 22nd 06, 12:09 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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Default Not sure who to ask...


John Gaquin wrote:
"reykjavik" wrote in message

I tried googling aviation vertigo but basically nothing shows up and
what does seems to referr entirely to pilots of air fighter jets....


The point of the aviation vertigo references is not that the phenomenon is
restricted to fighter pilots, but that they are the most obvious example of
the effects.

You can feel [aviation] vertigo anytime your inner ear signals do not match
up with what your eyes are seeing. When your brain tries to process these
conflicting signals, confusion results. If the conflict is mild, as with
most people on an airplane, it is relatively easy to overcome. As you
accelerate and rotate to a flying attitude, your ears sense this but your
eyes see only the stationary, placid interior of the cabin. For most
people, the simple knowledge that you are on an aircraft taking off is
enough to allow your brain to reconcile the conflict.

Perhaps you've already tried this: Next time you're tavelling, make a point
of looking out of the window during take-off, so that your eyes confirm what
your ears are saying to your brain.

John Gaquin


You know, now that you mention it, every time this has occurred, I have
been in an aisle seat not looking out, or in a window seat but it was
dark out so I didn't look out the window. And almost every time I have
been seated in front of the wings its because I was in first class (no,
Im not wealthy, I just spend all my miles on upgrades) and seated far
from the window (now that all the first class seats are fancy theyre
too big to be placed right up against the window). Plus when you're
behind the wings you have everything in front of you to look at passing
by, but if youre in front of the wings all you basically can look at
(since the cockpit obstructs your view) is the distant horizon or the
sky which I guess for me may not be enough to stave off this problem.

The only thing is, I do remember once a looong time ago not looking out
the window when the plane took off and I dont recall this happening.
Could it be a life transitional thing, meaning, something you just get
simply because youre older (like some people develop allergies later in
life, others lose their allergies altogether etc...)?

Also, is this "illness" (or whatever its called) serious in any way?