CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 15
...STArINg IN ONE dIrECTION FOr MOrE ThAN A SECONd Or TwO
MIghT rESulT IN yOur INAbIlITy TO dETECT TrAFFIC MOvINg IN yOur
PErIPhErAl vISION. ThE PhENOMENON rESPONSIblE FOr ThIS IS
kNOwN AS ThE TrOXlEr EFFECT.
off dramatically from the axis of fixation. I
also know from experience that 100 percent
visual acuity isn't a requirement for detecting
airborne traffic. Therefore, while holding
a distantly focused, steady gaze for at least
a second (but not much longer as I'll soon
discuss), a target's contrast and movement will
often betray its position. (Peripheral vision
is especially important at night, because the
central portion of the eye doesn't see well in
the dark. Off-center viewing makes it easier to
detect lighted targets.)
On the other hand, staring in one direction
for more than a second or two might result
in your inability to detect traffic moving in
your peripheral vision. The phenomenon
responsible for this is known as the Troxler
Effect. The effect suggests that by staring
too long in one direction, your eyes adapt
to any stimulus lying beyond their center of
focus. Why? The neurons in the visual system
underlying the eye's rods and cones have large
receptive fields. Despite the natural tendency
of your eyes to make small, involuntary
movements, these movements aren't large
enough to stimulate nearby neurons in the
receptive field. By staring too long in one
direction, you end up not noticing aircraft
movement in your peripheral vision. Watch
the accompanying video in this article for a
demonstration (airsafetyinstitute.org/see).
When it comes to scanning for traffic, there's
more than meets the eye. That's why scanning
should be taught as a skill, much like you
would teach slow flight, stall recognition, and
landings. It takes practice to learn to scan for
traffic, but it's a skill worth having. It's how
pilots keep that which meets the eye from
becoming that which meets plane.
Rod Machado is a flight instructor, author,
educator, and speaker. He has been a pilot since
1970 and a CFI since 1973. Visit his website (www.
rodmachado.com).
http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/see
http://www.rodmachado.com
http://www.rodmachado.com
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Vol. 5, Issue 1
It's My Aircraft
Safety Seminar: Accident Case Study: Live
CFI Commentary: Logging On For Online Refresher Course
CFI Tips: See & Avoid - The Troxler Effect
ASI Message: I'm Stalling
Accident Case Study: Communication Breakdown
Safety Quiz: Teach Your Students About ODPS
Safety Spotlight: Don't Scare the Children
ASI Online: Pressure Patterns -What's the Weather Doing
CFI Tools: Need a Second Opinion? ASI's Mobile Flight Risk Evaluator
Chief's Corner: Teaching Soft Skills
Pilot Safety Announcement: iPanel
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Vol. 5, Issue 1
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 2
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - It's My Aircraft
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 5
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 6
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 7
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 8
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - Safety Seminar: Accident Case Study: Live
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - CFI Commentary: Logging On For Online Refresher Course
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 11
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 12
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - CFI Tips: See & Avoid - The Troxler Effect
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 14
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 15
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 16
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - ASI Message: I'm Stalling
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - Accident Case Study: Communication Breakdown
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 19
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - Safety Quiz: Teach Your Students About ODPS
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - Safety Spotlight: Don't Scare the Children
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 22
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 23
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 24
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - ASI Online: Pressure Patterns -What's the Weather Doing
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 26
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - CFI Tools: Need a Second Opinion? ASI's Mobile Flight Risk Evaluator
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - Chief's Corner: Teaching Soft Skills
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 29
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 30
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - 31
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 1 - Pilot Safety Announcement: iPanel
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