抄録
Spatial disorientation (SD) is one of the important causes of critical aircraft mishaps. The
importance of SD education and training has been recognized in many countries including Japan. The
current airman education program of JASDF provides SD education and training only during the
undergraduate flight preparation course. Subsequent to completing this primary course, there is no
further scheduled SD training. Therefore, this study was conducted to survey the long-term
effectiveness for SD education and investigate whether a refresher training program during the basic
fighter training course would increase the effective SD training for JASDF pilots. The results show
that more than 70% of pilots in basic fighter training course did not recall the details of SD education
and more than 40% pilots did not recall training. The majority of these pilots (more than 75%) felt
the need to review SD education and training before their next in-air flight training course. They also
recognized the need for SD simulator training in addition to SD lecture during basic fighter training
course. These results suggest that SD training would be more effective by scheduling additional
lecture and simulator training at the introduction of the basic fighter training course.
