Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickness?

FullDeflection

FullDeflection

Well-Known Member
Started commercial training this morning at ATP, and a haphazard conversation with my instructor flipped a light switch in my head.

I mentioned to him that I had started out in glass for initial private and instrument, and added the private multi at ATP. Immediately he asked me if I started having trouble with motion sickness when I changed to steam gauges. (I had, numerous times after I started training in the PA-44. Never GOT sick, but dammit I probably would have felt better.)

He said he had heard about this being a common problem with people making the switch from glass to steam. Any thoughts or concerns? Thanks guys.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

With "Glass" all the information for airspeed, altitude, direction, and navigation is within your central area of vision. With round-dial gauges, you need to enlarge your scan to see everything and that often means more head movement and an increased chance of motion sickness. Just wait till you try it from the right seat.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

When transitioning from steam to the G1000 I loved the huge attitude indicator that was painted on the GDU. I felt like that made it easier for me to notice unwanted changes in attitude. Occasionally when flying steam IFR I do get a little motion sickness, but nothing crazy. Absolutely none on the G1000 and I think it has to do with that huge attitude indicator and what Mike H mentioned above.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

FDX8891 said:
When transitioning from steam to the G1000 I loved the huge attitude indicator that was painted on the GDU. I felt like that made it easier for me to notice unwanted changes in attitude. Occasionally when flying steam IFR I do get a little motion sickness, but nothing crazy. Absolutely none on the G1000 and I think it has to do with that huge attitude indicator and what Mike H mentioned above.
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You might get a bit of the leans at first entry to the clouds (normal), but having spent large amounts of time VFR and IFR in both steam and magic, I don't think one is better than the other from a motion sickness standpoint. Some people are sensitive (you can desensitise) and some aren't.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

Mike H said:
With "Glass" all the information for airspeed, altitude, direction, and navigation is within your central area of vision. With round-dial gauges, you need to enlarge your scan to see everything and that often means more head movement and an increased chance of motion sickness. Just wait till you try it from the right seat.
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Makes perfect sense. I'll try to hold my head still and scan with my eyes more haha

Autothrust Blue said:
You might get a bit of the leans at first entry to the clouds (normal), but having spent large amounts of time VFR and IFR in both steam and magic, I don't think one is better than the other from a motion sickness standpoint. Some people are sensitive (you can desensitise) and some aren't.
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I typically do fine in IMC, it was the steep turns that seemed to really get me. Plus, having problems on back-to-back days probably messed with my mind a little too. I'm also going to start popping a ginger capsule before I go to bed, if anything for the placebo effect.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

FullDeflection said:
Makes perfect sense. I'll try to hold my head still and scan with my eyes more haha



I typically do fine in IMC, it was the steep turns that seemed to really get me. Plus, having problems on back-to-back days probably messed with my mind a little too. I'm also going to start popping a ginger capsule before I go to bed, if anything for the placebo effect.
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Steep turn IFR or VFR?
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

How would the type of instrument change how you feel in a steep turn? The windows aren't any different colors or anything?
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

Funny, I actually had the opposite problem. Flew steam gauges since I was 16 - got in a DA-40 with G1000 and felt sick. The feeling was similar to reading in a car for me. Didn't like it at all. It was also bumpy with occasional IMC. I had no problem in the 737-800 sim.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

Murdoughnut said:
Funny, I actually had the opposite problem. Flew steam gauges since I was 16 - got in a DA-40 with G1000 and felt sick. The feeling was similar to reading in a car for me. Didn't like it at all. It was also bumpy with occasional IMC. I had no problem in the 737-800 sim.
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Yeah...I get how that happens. Don't read - scan - the droids...information you are looking for is all there, but it's presented radically differently. ("This changes everything" - No, it's still an airplane, but with funky instruments.)

My dad the 757 (steam airspeed, steam altimeter, electronic ADI/HSI) skipper didn't do so hot (performance, not sickness-wise) with his first G1000 flight either, until he got the hang of using the trend vectors and scanning THEM, rather than reading the actual values on the instruments. Glance inside - scan bank angle pointer, inclinometer, altimeter bug position, trend vectors, and VSI - then eyes back outside.
 
Re: Starting in glass + moving to steam gauge = motion sickn

hmmm, this is interesting, but it does make sense if your head is starting to move around.

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