Modern-day high performance aircraft are more powerful, more efficient, and, unfortunately, frequently produce high noise levels, resulting in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in military aircrew. Military pilots are required to perform many flight duties correctly in the midst of many challenges that may affect mission completion as well as aircraft and aircrew safety. NIHL can interfere with successful mission completion. NIHL may also require aircrew to be downgraded from flying duties, with the incumbent re-training costs for downgraded personnel and training costs for new/replacement aircrew. As it is not possible to control the source of the noise without compromising the efficiency of the engine and aircraft, protecting the aircrew from hazards of excessive noise and treating NIHL are of extreme importance. In this article we discuss various personal hearing protection devices and their efficacy, and pharmacological agents for prevention and management of NIHL.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3357/asem.3503.2013 | DOI Listing |
Brain Sci
December 2024
Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Background/objectives: Military aviators can be exposed to extreme physiological stressors, including decompression stress, G-forces, as well as intermittent hypoxia and/or hyperoxia, which may contribute to neurobiological dysfunction/damage. This study aimed to investigate the levels of neurological biomarkers in military aviators to assess the potential risk of long-term brain injury and neurodegeneration.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 48 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aviators and 48 non-aviator CAF controls.
Aerosp Med Hum Perform
December 2024
Introduction: Military pilots are subjected to unique pulmonary demands, particularly in high performance jets. The hypobaric environment necessitates use of on-board oxygen, breathing masks, and regulators to increase oxygen pressure, affecting ventilation and breathing responses. Safety features like pilot flight equipment and strapping into an ejection seat further impact pilot pulmonary function.
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December 2024
Introduction: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is disqualifying for aircrew in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), although outcomes for these patients is limited.
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November 2024
Background: Ejection seats are designed to be a lifesaving device for aircrew in emergencies. Modern ejection seats are widely prevalent in fighter and bomber aircraft and are occasionally associated with acceleration injury from axial loading (Gz) during the catapult phase of ejection, limb flail injury due to windblast, or parachute landing fall, especially if the ejection is outside of the seat's performance envelope.
Case Report: We present the first known case in the medical literature of a military pilot who survived a low-altitude, high-angulation (>90° of bank angle) ejection where the pilot's ejection seat parachute did not deploy due to contact with the ground before completion of the ejection sequence.
Aerosp Med Hum Perform
November 2024
Hypoxia recognition training (HRT) is a requirement for many nations' military aircrew. The aim of HRT is to enhance the ability of aircrew to recognize and recover from an unexpected in-flight hypoxic exposure; however, there is a paucity of research evaluating the efficacy of HRT and whether current training approaches are optimal. Rather, the benefits of HRT are routinely promulgated based on opinions and anecdotes.
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