FAA Recommends Bizav Spatial Disorientation Training

New FAA guidance, Information for Operators InFO 26003, recommends spatial disorientation training for pilots operating under Part 91, Part 91K, and Part 135. It cites accident data showing that spatial disorientation remains a contributing factor in aviation accidents and encourages operators and training providers to incorporate both theoretical and practical training into their programs.

Training that emphasizes avoiding conditions where spatial disorientation can occur, recognizing its onset, and using effective recovery techniques is recommended by the FAA. Suggested training includes scenario-based exercises that replicate real-world situations, maneuver-based training to isolate specific events, and a combination of ground school, simulator, and in-flight instruction.

Special emphasis areas outlined in the guidance include common locations and environmental conditions associated with spatial disorientation, immediate recognition and acceptance of symptoms, and reliance on flight instruments rather than sensory perception. The FAA also recommended refresher training and appropriate use of autopilot systems when available.

The guidance follows an NTSB safety recommendation that stemmed from a fatal Part 135 helicopter accident in California in 2020. About 80% of aviation accidents, the FAA noted, involve human factors, and spatial disorientation occurs when a pilot’s perception of aircraft orientation conflicts with reality, often due to limited visual references or conflicting sensory cues.