Final answer:
When landing over a darkened area, pilots may experience illusions due to the lack of visual references, which can lead to a misjudgment of altitude. Pilots are trained to counteract these illusions by adhering to flight instrument data and landing procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
When landing over a darkened area, the pilot may experience the illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. This type of perceptual illusion is common in aviation and can occur due to the lack of visual references or a poorly lit environment during the approach to an airstrip. To combat this, pilots are trained to rely on their flight instruments and established procedures for landing, rather than visual perceptions.
This topic involves understanding human senses in relation to machine operation and physics. Specifically, this addresses how the human brain can be deceived by situations like landing over an area where the visual cues are absent, causing a pilot to misjudge distance and altitude. Pilots must be prepared to deal with potential illusions that can be caused by atmospheric conditions, such as atmospheric aberrations or the lack of visible lights that provide spatial orientation.
A scenario describing the experience is when a plane descends towards an island under the cover of darkness, such as in the provided text reference. Despite the impending risk as the plane approaches land, pilots must maintain composure and adhere to their training and instrument readings. The literature describes a situation where the protagonist feels an intense impulse to act, paralleling the importance of restraining from relying solely on visual cues and trusting the instruments and procedures designed to ensure a safe landing.