A TWENTY YEAR ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION IN THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE – A WAY FORWARD

The impact of spatial disorientation (SD)on flight safety within the Italian Air Force (ItAF) was analyzed. Ten SD related mishaps (16% of all severe accidents) were recorded from 1993 to 2012. In agreement with other studies, such a percentage increased to 27% when the analysis was restricted to the sole fatal events. Within SD related mishaps, the fatal rate was 60%, which was signifcantly higher (p=0.0424) than the one recorded in non SD accidents (24%). A decrease of the SD related accident ratio x100,000 fight hrs was also observed across that period, together with the total rate reduc- tion. However, a global under-reporting of mishaps and hazard reports where SD might have played a major role is strongly suspected. Countermeasures adopted by the ItAF against SD and the results obtained are discussed , along with perspectives in SD accident prevention. Such activities should involve the aeromedical area as well as other professional categories (pilots, instructors, en- gineers, and human factor experts). Despite the world- wide efforts to contrast SD in aircrew members, it still maintains an outstanding role as a fight hazard.