Military Aircrew Seating: a Human Factors Engineering Approach

Abstract

Abstract : The application of human factors engineering to the realm of aerospace design is not a new or unique concept, however its direct application to aircrew seat design considerations, human response to whole body vibration, new seat design concepts, and several methods of evaluating and contrasting aircrew seats. During this effort, two aircrew seats were developed. These primarily consisted of new seat pan and backrest structures. Two distinct experiments were performed. Data was collected to determine pressure distribution on the various seat pans in a static environment. The new seat pans were statistically different (lower maximum pressure) than the current seat pan. The current seat pan averaged almost double new seat pressure readings. The second experiment in which 12 active duty Air Force males participated in a series of dynamic vibration exposure tests which simulated the measurements were accomplished. Keywords: Human factors; Aircrew seating; Vibration exposure; Seat pan pressure; Body part discomfort; Spinal creep; Seat design.