Definition
The physical feelings a pilot experiences in flight from the body's balance and motion-sensing systems — the inner ear, the muscles and joints, and the eyes — which the brain combines to judge the aircraft's attitude and movement. In instrument flight, these sensations can be misleading and must be disregarded in favor of what the instruments show.
Plain English
The seat-of-the-pants feelings your body gives you about which way is up, how fast you're turning, or whether you're climbing or descending. Without an outside view, these feelings often lie to you, so you fly the instruments instead of what your body says.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when the pilot is flying by instruments instead of by a clear outside horizon.
Derivation
Sensory' comes from the Latin 'sensus' meaning 'feeling' or 'perception.' 'Sensation' shares the same root. Together the phrase simply emphasizes feelings received through the body's senses — the input the brain uses to figure out position and motion.
Why Pilots Care
Trusting these feelings instead of instruments is a leading cause of spatial disorientation and loss of control in instrument conditions.
Grounding Statement
A pilot can feel as if the airplane is straight and level while the instruments show that it is actually turning or tilted.
Intuition Check
Do not assume sensory sensations are reliable just because they feel strong or natural. In instrument flight, the body can give a convincing but wrong message, and the instruments are the check.
Example Sentence 1
When entering the clouds, the pilot ignored the strong sensory sensations of turning and concentrated on the attitude indicator.
Example Sentence 2
In the graveyard spiral the sensory sensations may feel level even while the aircraft continues to bank and descend.