Spatial Disorientation
What is spatial disorientation?
Spatial disorientation is the lack of awareness of your aircraft's position, attitude, or movement in space. It occurs when your body's three orientation systems—the eyes, inner ear, and the sensory nerves that detect pressure and movement—give you false or conflicting information, often when you lose sight of the natural horizon (such as in fog, clouds, or low visibility). Think of it as your senses "lying" to you—the cure is to trust your flight instruments, not your gut feelings.
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