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Military aircrew eyewear survey: operational issues
José E Capó-Aponte1, David J Hilber, Thomas G Urosevich
1U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL, USA. jose.e.capoaponte.mil@mail.mil
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|August 10, 2013
Summary
Current U.S. Army aircrew eyewear presents significant operational deficiencies, including discomfort and restricted fields of view, impacting mission readiness. Improved, aviation-compatible protective eyewear is urgently needed for aircrew safety and performance.
Area of Science:
- Military Aviation
- Ophthalmology
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- U.S. Army aircrew operate in demanding environments requiring specialized protective eyewear.
- Current U.S. Army-issue aircrew eyewear may have mission-related operational issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess operational issues and mission needs related to current U.S. Army aircrew eyewear.
- To identify deficiencies in existing aircrew spectacles and determine aircrew desires for improved eye protection.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous online survey was distributed to 976 U.S. Army aircrew personnel.
- Data collected focused on operational problems, comfort, field of view, and compatibility with flight systems.
Main Results:
- Nearly 50% of aircrew reported dissatisfaction with the HGU-4/P Aviator spectacles due to discomfort and fit.
- Restricted field of view (FOV) in HGU-4/P and Modified HGU-4/P Apache spectacles adversely affected performance for 16% and 79% respectively.
- 46% experienced eye discomfort from wind and dust; over 82% desired improved spectacles and 73% aviation-compatible protective eyewear.
Conclusions:
- The HGU-4/P Aviator and Modified HGU-4/P Apache spectacles exhibit significant operational deficiencies and compatibility issues.
- These deficiencies lead to poor wear compliance and unauthorized modifications, creating safety and readiness concerns.
- There is a clear need for military combat eye protection specifically designed for compatibility with flight systems.
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