Simulator sickness in a helicopter flight training school.
BACKGROUND
Simulator sickness (SS) is a common problem during flight training and can affect both instructor pilots (IP) and student pilots (SP). This study was conducted in response to complaints about a high incidence of SS associated with use of new simulators for rotary-wing aircraft.


METHODS
The problem was evaluated using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) to collect data on 73 IP and 129 SP who used the new simulators. Based on analysis of these data, operator comments, and a search of the literature, we recommended limiting simulator flights to 2 h, removing unusual or unnatural maneuvers, turning off the sidescreens to reduce the field-of-view, avoiding use of improperly calibrated simulators until repaired, and stressing proper rest and health discipline among the pilots. The success of these measures was evaluated 1 yr later by collecting SSQ data on 25 IP and 50 SP.


RESULTS
There was a main effect of time, in that after the recommendations were implemented, there was a significant reduction in nausea, oculomotor, and total SSQ scores from the pre-study to the post-study. There was also a main effect of experience, as IP reported significantly greater SS than SP for the same scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of the recommendations reduced SS in the new simulators at the cost of limiting session duration and shutting down some simulator features. Although the optimal solution to the SS problem lies in addressing SS during a simulator's design stage, these recommendations can be used as interim solutions to reduce SS.
Webb
Catherine M
CM
Warfighter Performance and Health Division, U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 620577, Fort Rucker, AL 36362-0577, USA. catherine.webb@us.army.mil
Bass
Julie M
JM
Johnson
David M
DM
Kelley
Amanda M
AM
Martin
Christopher R
CR
Wildzunas
Robert M
RM
D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D006801:Humans; D009041:Motion Sickness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis