Helicopter Seat Pain Solutions Are on the Horizon | Aviation International News

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Helicopter Seat Pain Solutions Are on the Horizon

Contoured cushions and better materials could mitigate pilot injury

Hendrick Motorsports prototype seat developed for the U.S. Army. — A Hendrick Motorsports prototype seat developed for the Army.

By Mark Huber • Contributor

February 1, 2024

Helicopter pilots frequently sustain injuries. And not just from accidents.

Rather, it’s from the seats and helmets in concert with the aircraft’s constant whole-body vibration (WBV) and flight control positions. The injuries can be permanent, debilitating, even career-ending, as pointed out by a study published in 2011 by the Naval Postgraduate School. According to a survey of hundreds of Navy helicopter pilots, 88.1 percent experience back pain on at least 50 percent of their flights, and 34.4 percent admitted that it affected their situational awareness. However, those who experience pain from uncomfortable seats are reluctant to seek treatment for it for fear of being removed from active flight status.

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