Sound and Vibration Exposure During Fixed-Wing Aircraft Neonatal Patient Transport

Specialized transport systems are used for newborns who require medical care. These complex systems are subjected to vehicle-specific vibration and sound during transport. Prolonged exposure to high levels of sound and vibration can be harmful to humans. This study aimed to quantify the sound and vibration levels experienced within a fixed-wing aircraft (Pilatus PC-12) during neonatal transport.

A dedicated flight test was performed in a PC-12. Acceleration and sound data were captured in the cabin at the approximate position of the neonatal patient transport system, were it loaded. Resultant motions of the transport system and patient were estimated using experimentally derived transfer functions.

Vertical vibration was most significant, and the average motion of the cabin floor and pilot seat was comparable in the 1 to 80 Hz frequency range. The greatest motion occurred during segments of rough turbulence, when patient levels were estimated to reach the ISO 2631 "very uncomfortable" threshold. Sound levels exceeded the 60 dBA limit recommended by the CSA Group and the European Committee for Standardization across all phases of flight, peaking at 89.3 dBA during a short-field landing.

Measured cabin sound exceeded recommended limits, and vertical accelerations reached levels considered uncomfortable under ISO 2631, highlighting the potential risk to this physiologically vulnerable population, compelling further research into vibration mitigation strategies. Aircraft acceleration data have enabled more extensive laboratory testing of the transport system. Establishing neonatal-specific whole-body vibration guidelines remains essential to fully understand and address the clinical implications of these exposures.