Direct Combat-related U.S. Army Aviation Injuries 2003-2014.

Introduction: The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), a partner in the Joint Trauma Analysis for the Prevention of Injury in Combat (JTAPIC) partnership, conducted a series of retrospective reviews to investigate injuries sustained by occupants of U.

Aircrew Performance and Safety While Using Protective Masks in Response to Coronavirus Disease.

In response to the urgent need for safe aircrew respiratory protection due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three small descriptive evaluations were conducted with aircrew and air traffic controllers (ATC) that assessed the impact of mask use on safety and performance onboard rotary wing aircraft. A series of evaluations assessed aircrew performance using the 3M Model 1860 N95 respiratory protection mask, two aviation-specific cloth mask prototypes, and a commercial off-the-shelf aviation-specific cloth mask. The series of evaluations included different sets of subjects consisting of up to five Black Hawk helicopter aircrew members, air traffic control (ATC), and 12 CH-47 aircrew members.

COVID-19 MEDEVAC Best Practices: The Development of a Standardized Medical Operating Guideline.

COVID-19, a highly infectious virus, presents self-evident problems with regards to aeromedical transportation. Droplet size, proximity of caregiver from the patient, severity of upper and lower respiratory symptoms, personal protective equipment (PPE) and turbulence of airflow are factors which may influence the transmission of any biological agent aboard an air transport platform. Given the relatively confined space of rotary-wing MEDEVAC helicopters and the lack of structural barriers between flight crew and passengers, transmission risk is high, particularly when close contact under these conditions last beyond 15 minutes.

Tactile cues in continuous operations: a preliminary study.

Introduction: Research has shown that tactile displays are an effective tool for augmenting spatial orientation and situation awareness information provided to aircraft operators. The tactile situation awareness system (TSAS) has been shown to improve flight performance in conditions of degraded visual environments and to safely maintain performance during hover over moving targets. The potential for the user to adapt and habituate to the stimulus of tactile display systems has not yet been investigated.

Modafinil as a replacement for dextroamphetamine for sustaining alertness in military helicopter pilots.

Introduction: Successful military aviation operations depend on maintaining continuous day-night operations. Stimulants are easy to use and popular for sustaining performance because their utility is not dependent upon environmental or scheduling modifications. Dextroamphetamine is authorized for use by the aircrews of all U.

Traumatic brain injury risk while parachuting: comparison of the personnel armor system for ground troops helmet and the advanced combat helmet.

Military paratroopers are inherently at risk for a variety of injuries when they jump, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). U.S.

Upper extremity interaction with a helicopter side airbag: injury criteria for dynamic hyperextension of the female elbow joint.

This paper describes a three part analysis to characterize the interaction between the female upper extremity and a helicopter cockpit side airbag system and to develop dynamic hyperextension injury criteria for the female elbow joint. Part I involved a series of 10 experiments with an original Army Black Hawk helicopter side airbag. A 5(th) percentile female Hybrid III instrumented upper extremity was used to demonstrate side airbag upper extremity loading.

The effect of frontal air bags on eye injury patterns in automobile crashes.

Objective: To investigate eye injuries resulting from frontal automobile crashes and to determine the effects of frontal air bags.

Methods: The National Automotive Sampling System database files from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1999, were examined in a 3-part study that included an investigation of 22 236 individual crashes that occurred in the United States. A new 4-level eye injury severity scale that quantifies injuries based on recovery time, need for surgery, and possible loss of sight was developed.

Computer modeling of airbag-induced ocular injury in pilots wearing night vision goggles.

Background: Airbags have saved lives in automobile crashes for many years and are now planned for use in helicopters. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for ocular injuries to helicopter pilots wearing night vision goggles when the airbag is deployed.

Methods: A nonlinear finite element model of the human eye was created.