A Cross-Cultural Anthropometric Analysis in Military Aviation

BACKGROUND: Aircrew-aircraft compatibility is important in military aviation for flight safety. Anthropometric aircrew selection standards in RAFO were embedded from the selection standards of western defense forces as the aircrafts were imported from there. Henceforth efforts were made to fit local native aviators into aircrafts not initially designed for them. In view of this, this study was carried out to obtain the anthropometric data of Oman aircrew recruits and compare these with published western and eastern data with a hope to understand and highlight the aircrew-aircraft mismatch issues, if any.METHODS: The anthropometric data of 2296 Omani recruits from 2003 to 2012 were collected and their statistical distribution of data was collated. Published data from the UK and Singapore were used to carry out the comparative distribution of five anthropometric dimensions.RESULTS: Minimal differences were noted between Oman and Singaporean recruits whereas differences were most pronounced between Oman and Western populations (UK). Aircrew cadets from Oman, Singapore, and UK differed significantly in standing height. The UK cadets (M = 177.4 cm) showed the highest standing height followed by Oman cadets (M = 171.9cm), and then Singapore cadets (M = 168.5 cm).DISCUSSION: This study has provided opportunities to recognize the discrepancies involved in selection of Middle Eastern aircrew for western cockpits. This adds impetus to the scope for application of military recruitment standards suitable to the native population in aiding the ideal man-machine interface. This approach shall consider national policy, the significant anthropometric trends of the general population, and the procured aircraft profile of the country.Al Wardi Y, Jeevarathinam S, Al Sabei S.