What does the Elevator Illusion cause a pilot to feel?

The Elevator Illusion causes a pilot to experience a sensation of climbing or descending due to the body's response to changes in altitude. This phenomenon arises when a pilot fails to correctly interpret sensory perceptions during rapid altitude changes, particularly when an aircraft experiences abrupt increases or decreases in vertical acceleration.

In an elevator motion scenario, the force exerted on the body can create a feeling akin to that of an actual climb or descent, leading pilots to incorrectly perceive their flight path. This misperception can result in faulty judgments about the aircraft's status, especially in circumstances of turbulence or during approach and landing phases. Understanding this illusion is crucial for pilots to maintain situational awareness and make informed decisions, particularly in conditions where visual references are limited.