ATPL Human Factors Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The problem associated with the vestibular system in flight primarily revolves around the conflict between visual and vestibular cues. In the context of aviation, the vestibular system is responsible for sensing motion and balance, including the orientation of the body in space. During flight, especially in certain conditions such as turbulence or rapid maneuvers, pilots may experience discrepancies between what they see and what their inner ear perceives.

For example, a pilot may visually perceive a steady horizon but feel sensations of movement due to a disturbance in the aircraft's flight path. This misalignment can lead to disorientation or confusion, affecting the pilot’s ability to maintain situational awareness and make sound decisions. Such conflicts can have significant implications on flight safety, as they may lead to spatial disorientation, which can result in loss of control of the aircraft.

In contrast, the other options reflect positive aspects of visual acuity, motion perception, and spatial orientation that are not specifically tied to problems within the vestibular system during flight operations.