Project Areas

Occupant Safety

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Aircrew Protection - Rotary Wing

Both the fixed and rotary wing military cockpit are hazardous environments in an emergency situation, with a very high probability for injury, ranging from minor to fatal. CIC have completed many studies whereby aircrew protection and injury hazard reduction have been foremost. The helicopter and fast-jet cockpit and the procedures employed during such emergencies differ greatly, primarily due to crash-landings in helicopters and ejection from fast-jets.

In helicopters the work content, through physical testing and extensive computer modelling, has included assessment of head and face protection, for the whole UK helicopter fleet, due to the wearing of helmet mounted systems and the hazards associated with night flying.

The hazard of primary and secondary impact with the cockpit environment, especially the cyclic, gun-sights etc, has also been studied, the emphasis on occupant posture and reduction in head excursion during crashes, through the implementation and optimisation of inflatable restraint systems.

Physical testing, including non-destructive tests, has ranged from full-scale dynamic sled testing of seat, dummy and equipment combinations, down to component testing of helmets, harnesses, airbag systems etc.

Considerations have also been given to on-land crashes and ditching into water and the subsequent egress associated with these two quite different accident scenarios.

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