The Air Force's hair-raising (sorry) research for drones

I'd say it was more a pilot issue than an instrument issue. Same-same?

Thank you for the interesting share shipmate.

Sounds like a classic case of vetigo. Without sufficient visual clues, Instrument failure, or lack of training - particularly with instrument takeoffs, or dark night takeoffs, the tiny hairs inside the semi-circular canals of the inner ear will give off false sensations due to forces of acceleration, head movement, etc. These sensations give pilots a false read of what is happening to the aircraft, and if they act on those false sensations rather than evaluating the aircraft instruments and other indicators, they will lose control of the aircraft. There a number of instruments that back up each other. The “trick” is sufficient cross-check to recognize developing problems with your indicators. Pilots need sufficient training under “emergency panel” or “partial panel” scenarios. To me, a worst case scenario would be to lose all Instrument panel lighting just passing the point of take-off “abort”, which would require a completely “blind-fold” take-off. In that situation, the chances of a successful take-off become close to mill. Actual safety data has proven that if you are flying an aircraft with no instrument training, and inadvertently go IFR, it only takes two or three minutes of flying “by the seat of the pants” before you lose complete control, or pull the wings off of an airplane.

If science comes up with some kind of a “fix” that helps a Pilot “feel” directions, it would require completely inactivating the natural balance mechanism of the inner ear. Case in point: Spin yourself around rapidly for a few seconds, and then try walking in a straight line using your eyes. Your balance mechanism of the inner ear controls your movement in spite of the reality of what your eyes are seeing.. That ‘s how strong your inner ear balance is..... It takes a lot of training to learn to fly the aircraft even when you are experiencing vertigo. It can be done, but takes a lot of diligent training and attention.