TRAINING FOR DEGRADED VISUAL
ENVIRONMENTS AT UND AEROSPACE
By Josh Rogne
E 58
very year there are reports of fatal accidents where the pilot became spatially disoriented and crashed due to flying into inadvertent instrument meteorological
conditions. According to the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team, more than 130 fatal accidents have occurred since the year 2000 when pilots fly into visually degraded environments. These incidents occur regardless of pilot experience and are often the result of insufficient planning, poor decisions, and inadequate training for the unexpected.
A prime example occurred on Jan, 26, 2020. An experienced helicopter pilot crashed into the mountains of Southern California. This tragedy claimed the lives of nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter. The National Transportation Safety Board found that pilot error was the primary cause of the crash. The pilot flew into low-level clouds,
July/Aug 2023
became spatially disoriented, and collided with a nearby hillside while attempting to navigate in a visually degraded environment – despite having over 8,000 flight hours of experience including more than 1,000 hours in the Sikorsky S-76. This pilot also served as a company check airman and chief pilot. So clearly, even the most experienced and qualified pilots are not immune to the dangers of spatial disorientation.
The helicopter industry and the University of North Dakota (UND) are searching for solutions that could help prevent tragedies like this. UND is renowned for its world-class flight training program. With North America’s largest collegiate aviation program, UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences sets the bar for professional aerospace education. With over 500 faculty and staff and more than 1,800 students from all corners of the world, UND is the leading provider of collegiate helicopter flight
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