Final answer:
Pilot disorientation without visual terrain references can be worsened by perpetual cloud layers, turbulent air causing 'bad seeing,' and GPS signal distortions due to Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) affecting satellite accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pilot without visual reference to the terrain can become disoriented due to several factors. For instance, perpetual cloud layers surrounding the planet make visual navigation very difficult, similar to the way air traffic controllers struggle to locate incoming planes in poor visibility conditions. In these cases, radar instruments are used to probe through the obscuring layer.
Furthermore, the air can often be unsteady, causing what astronomers term as 'bad seeing.' This involves light passing through turbulent air, resulting in blurred images, which in the case of pilots, could lead to disorientation as the signals required for navigation become distorted.
Additionally, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can change the orbits of satellites and distort the GPS signals they emit. These distortions can significantly reduce the accuracy of GPS-derived positions, causing complications for aviation systems that rely on precise location data. The Federal Aviation Administration has had to restrict flights at times due to the interference caused by CMEs, illustrating the severity these solar events can have on aviation safety.