Motion Sickness

Motion sickness, also known as airsickness, is caused by the brain receiving conflicting messages about the body's position and movement.

Motion Sickness

Introduction to Motion Sickness

  • Motion sickness, also known as airsickness, is caused by the brain receiving conflicting messages about the body's position and movement.
  • Test your understanding of Motion Sickness by completing the knowledge quiz, applying your knowledge in the interactive scenario, comparing your performance against the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and concluding with the topic summary to reinforce the key concepts before moving on to the next lesson.

  • WARNING:
    All aeromedical topics are GENERALIZED.
    Always consult with a doctor or physician to understand your specific situation.
On This Page

    Help Us Grow

    Enjoy CFI Notebook? A one-time donation helps us create more high-quality lessons, quizzes, scenarios, graphics, and interactive tools.

    One-Time Donation
    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness Key Highlights

    • Motion sickness occurs when conflicting sensory signals disrupt the body’s perception of movement and orientation.
    • Turbulence, unusual aircraft maneuvers, heat, stress, anxiety, and poor ventilation can contribute to motion sickness during flight.
    • Symptoms commonly include nausea, dizziness, sweating, fatigue, disorientation, and decreased concentration.
    • Motion sickness can impair pilot performance, situational awareness, and aeronautical decision-making abilities.
    • Pilots may reduce motion sickness risk by maintaining visual reference with the horizon and minimizing unnecessary head movement.
    • Proper ventilation, hydration, rest, and gradual exposure to flight conditions can help improve tolerance to motion sickness.
    • Fatigue, dehydration, illness, and stress may increase susceptibility to motion sickness symptoms.
    • Some motion sickness medications can cause drowsiness or cognitive impairment that may make them unsafe for flight operations.
    • Pilots experiencing significant motion sickness should transfer aircraft control or terminate the flight if safety is affected.
    • Understanding motion sickness improves physiological awareness, risk management, and overall flight safety.
    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness

    • Motion sickness, also known as airsickness, is caused by the brain receiving conflicting messages about the body's position and movement.
      • A pilot may experience motion sickness during initial flights, but it generally goes away within the first few lessons.
      • Anxiety and stress, often experienced at the beginning of flight training, can contribute to motion sickness.
      • Symptoms of motion sickness include general discomfort, nausea, dizziness, paleness, sweating, and vomiting.
    • It is important to remember that experiencing airsickness is no reflection on one's ability as a pilot.
      • If you are prone to motion sickness, inform the flight instructor so they can use techniques to help you overcome it.
      • For example, avoid lessons in turbulent conditions until you become more comfortable in the aircraft, or start with shorter flights and gradually progress to more extended instruction periods.
      • If symptoms of motion sickness are experienced during a lesson, opening fresh air vents, focusing on objects outside the airplane, and avoiding unnecessary head movements may help alleviate some of the discomfort.
      • Although medications like Dramamine can help prevent airsickness in passengers, they are not recommended for use during flights, as they can cause drowsiness and other side effects.
    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness Prevention

    • Before being forced to attempt to cure motion sickness or end a flight early, pilots can prevent motion sickness.
    • Prevention techniques include smooth flying (slow coordinated inputs), avoiding flight on a turbulent day, drinking water, eating a light, plain meal before flying rather than flying on an empty stomach, and coaching passengers through what they could expect.
    Motion Sickness

    Remediation of Motion Sickness

    • Drinking water, while also a preventive measure, can help ease the effects of motion sickness.
    • Flying straight and level or minimizing maneuvers for as long as possible can relieve any vertigo-type sicknesses.
    • Putting a cool rag around the neck can reduce nausea.
    • Ginger Chews [Amazon] may assist pilots or passengers with overcoming nausea.
    • Regardless, pilots should consider carrying motion sickness bags [Amazon], if not already provided in the aircraft.
    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness Interactive Scenario

    Interactive Scenario

    Loading scenario details...

    Loading...
    Decision 1
    0%

    Scenario Complete

    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness Knowledge Check

    Choose the knowledge check that matches your current training for Motion Sickness.

    Private Pilot quiz illustration Private Pilot

    PPL knowledge check

    Core Knowledge Review

    Review foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations. Topic: Motion Sickness.

    • Immediate feedback
    • Answer explanations
    • Account progress tracking

    Why Take a Quiz?

    Quizzes reinforce key concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for real-world decisions. Quiz material is representative of the information provided here and is not based on or sourced from the Federal Aviation Administration test bank.

    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness Conclusion

    • Still looking for something? Continue searching:
    Motion Sickness

    Motion Sickness References