Seymour aircrew participates in Air Force Sizing Survey

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Pilots and weapons systems officers here participated in a research study to re-design flight suits and helmets here to fit today's average aircrew member.

The Air Force Anthropometrics team from the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, visited Seymour Johnson during the month of May to conduct the Air Force Sizing Survey. The data compiled will help redesign flight suits, helmets and potentially other life support gear, according to the team's mission statement.

"This is the first redesign of the Air Force flight suit in more than 40 years," said Lt. Col. Duncan Hughes, 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander. "People are bigger now than they were in the 50s, body dynamics are different. This re-design has the potential to have a major impact on aircrew."

The survey consisted of a 3-D photogenic scanning system which takes images of the aircrew member in three different postures. Limbs, facial structure, height and shoulder span were also recorded. The study will not only be used to re-design the flightsuit, it will also help answer questions about cockpit design in several aircraft to evaluate accessibility to a wider span of aircrew.

"When pilots graduate from training at the top of their class, they are given the option to pick which aircraft they want to fly. Because of height and other restrictions in certain aircraft, the Airman may not be qualified to fly the aircraft they actually want to fly," Hughes said. "Hopefully, the new data will widen the options for new aircrew members to fly the aircraft they have worked to fly."

Several bases also conducted a survey including Altus AFB, Okla., Charleston AFB, S.C., Little Rock AFB, Ark., Shaw AFB, S.C., and Vance AFB, Okla., to decrease the movement of the sensitive scanning equipment. So far, Seymour Johnson has had the most participation from aircrew than any of the other bases surveyed. Officials expressed their appreciation for the participating aircrew members and stressed the importance of their part in the study.

"This data is integral to the development and fielding of weapons system components and equipment," said Brig. Gen Daniel O. Wyman, Command Surgeon, Headquarters, Air Combat Command.