A Comparison Of Custom Molded Versus Foam In Ear Communication Devices Major Michael Luby Aerospace Physiologist RAF Centre Of Aviation Medicine
Problem • Changes In EU Legislation • Subsequent Change In UK Law • Modern Jet Fighters Can Exceed 130 Db • 100 dB In The Cockpit • Current Protection Equipment Does Not Meet Need • What Type Of Ear Plug Is Perceived As More Comfortable And Functional RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Task • RAF CAM Tasked By S&AD IPT (Jun 06) – Comparative & Quantitative Assessment Of COTS IECDs – Precursor To Aircraft Integration/Formal Procurement – Provide Aeromedical Advice – Provide Ranked List • Products selected by S&AD IPT RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Scope Of Trial • Ground Trial – Comfort – Donning and Doffing – Cleaning – Altitude Chamber • Flight Trial – In-flight Comfort – Communication Quality RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Bias • Custom Molded Tried First • Subjects Could Talk To Each Other • Subjects Past Experience With Ear Plugs RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Assumptions • Products Built To Specs • Participants Were Truthful In Reporting RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Ground Trial – 5 Systems A B C D E
Ground Trial • 6 Subjects – 2 Pilots – 2 Medical Officers – 1 Aerospace Physiologist – 2 Survival Equipment Specialists • Methodology – Subjects Wore System In Office Environment – 1 Hour Minimum Per Session – Used System For Minimum Of 2 Weeks – Subjects Logged Each Session – Questionnaire Following Use RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Results • Subjects Rated IECD As – Fully Acceptable (2) – Acceptable (1) – Barely Acceptable (-1) – Unacceptable (-2) • Average Obtained And Plotted In Chart RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Results Helmet Interations 2 1 A B C E Avg A B C Avg 0 D D E A B C D E Avg How easy is it to insert the earplugs? How easy is it to don the helmet with Ability to adjust earplugs once the the earplugs in place? helmet is on -1 -2
Results Comfort 2 1 A B C E Avg A B C Avg A B C E Avg A B C Avg 0 D D E D D E Please assess your comfort Please assess your comfort How easy is it to insert the How easy is it to don the helmet rating wearing the earplug rating wearing the earplug with earplugs? with the earplugs in place? without a helmet? a helmet? -1 -2
Results • Custom Moulded Found To Be More Comfortable • All Systems Vented Without Problems • IECD “D” Rejected – Too Bulky – Silicone Splitting • IECD “E” Rejected – Air Tubes Conducted Too Much Noise RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Flight Trial • Remaining Systems Carried Over To Flight Trial In RAF CAM Hawk • Subjects – 3 Pilots – 1 Medical Officer – 1 Aerospace Physiologist RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Flight Trial • Methodology – 1 Flight Per System Per Subject • Subjects Completed Questionnaire Following Flight – Satisfactory (1) – Unsatisfactory (0) – Unacceptable (-1) • Average Obtained And Plotted In Chart RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Results Interaction with helmet donning 1 0.5 Average Average Average Average Average A B C F A B C F A B C F A B C F A B C F 0 Ease of Fitting Earplugs Comfort Ease of Donning Earplugs Comfort Ease of Adjusting Earplugs into the without a Helmet Helmet with with a Helmet Earplugs with -0.5 Ear Channels Donned Earplugs Fitted Donned Helmet Donned -1
Results In-flight Comfort 1 0.5 Average Average Average Average B C F B C F B C F A B C F 0 A A A Overall Comfort during Overall Comfort during Overall Comfort during Ease of Ear Clearing Ascent Cruise Descent during Flight -0.5 -1
Results Comm Quality With Earplugs Working 1 0.5 Average Average Average Average Average A B C F A B C F A B C F A B C F A B C F 0 Clarity of Main Clarity of S/By Clarity of S/By Clarity of Main Clarity of Main Comms On- Comms On- Comms In-Flight- Comms In-Flight- Comms In-Flight- -0.5 Ground Ground Max Ambient Noise Min Ambient Noise Max Ambient Noise -1
Results Comm Quality With Ear Plug Not Working 1 0.5 Average Average Average Average Average A B C A B C A B C A B C A B C 0 Clarity of Main Clarity of S/By Clarity of Main Clarity of Main Clarity of S/By Comms On- Comms On- Comms In-Flight- Comms In-Flight- Comms In-Flight- -0.5 Ground Ground Min Ambient Noise Max Ambient Noise Max Ambient Noise -1
Discussion • Custom Moulded Again More Comfortable • IECD “A” And “B” Rated Higher On Comm Quality When Working – Followed By “C” Then “F” • IECD “A” Outperformed Custom Moulded In Comm Quality When IECD Not Working – Followed By “C” Then “B” RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Comments • Too Much Noise Protection With Custom Moulded • Volume Set To Min When IECD Working • Volume Set To Max When Not Working • Audio Alarm Too Loud RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Conclusions • Custom Moulded More Comfortable Than IECD “A” – Trial Not Long Enough For Acclimation To IECD “A” • IECD “A” Rated Better In Flight Performance • Unable To Say One Is Better Than Other RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Conclusions • IECD “A” Is Flight Ready • Work Is Needed On Custom Moulded Systems Trialled To Make Flight Ready • Work Is Needed On All IECD To Integrate To – Helmet – Aircraft RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
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