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Aviation glossary

Vertigo

What is vertigo?

Illustration related to vertigo
Image: H. Zell — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Vertigo is a type of spatial disorientation that occurs when your physical senses send conflicting signals to the brain, producing a sensation of dizziness and imbalance. It can create or worsen illusions that feel completely real, and it can affect pilots of any experience level. It's especially dangerous in poor visibility and may even incapacitate a pilot—but you can minimize it by trusting your flight instruments over your physical sensations. Think of it as: when your body and your instruments disagree, believe the instruments.

Also known as: spatial disorientation

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