CPL » Human Factors » Motion Sickness
34.26 Motion Sickness
34.26.2 Explain the causes of motion sickness.
Motion sickness, or airsickness, occurs when the brain receives conflicting information about movement and orientation from the body's sensory systems.
In particular, there may be a mismatch between information received from:
the eyes;
the inner ear (vestibular system); and
other sensory receptors that detect body position and movement.
For example, during turbulence the inner ear may detect considerable movement while the eyes, particularly when focused inside the cockpit, may provide different information. This sensory conflict can produce motion sickness.
Motion sickness is more common in:
student pilots;
inexperienced aircrew; and
passengers
than in experienced pilots, as repeated exposure often allows the body to gradually adapt.
Susceptibility may be increased by:
anxiety;
stress;
intense concentration;