The great transatlantic race; physiologic and otoneurologic considerations
article
Background In the era of the competition for the first transatlantic flight at the beginning of the 19th century, numerous accidents occurred. Whereas engine failure, bad weather and navigational problems are usually held responsible, the human factor has hardly been addressed. Methods In light of current insights, an inventory is made of possible physiologic and otoneurologic factors that could have contributed to failures and accidents. Results Extreme fatigue, hyperventilation with vestibular hyperreactivity and airsickness may have played a role. When flying in the dark and in clouds, pilots were subject to spatial disorientation as a result of vestibulo-visual conflicts and gravitational misinformation. The loudness of the engines was deafening, which may have caused noise-induced vertigo. In some cases, asymptomatic third window lesions may have become manifest and may have contributed to dizziness. Conclusion Accidents and failures in the early days of aviation were not only the result of technical defects. Undoubtedly, human physiology played a role as well. © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.
TNO Identifier
1009183
ISSN
00222151
Source
Journal of Laryngology and Otology, pp. Epub 25 March.
Pages
Epub 25 March
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.