title: Radiated electric field measurements in U.S. Army helicopters.
abstract: Aircraft systems and medical devices generate electromagnetic fields. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can cause faulty operation of aircraft systems or medical devices and endanger patients or aircraft crewmembers. A ground and inflight study was conducted to describe the electromagnetic fields in typical operations. Broadband isotropic field sensors measured electric fields from 5 kHz to 3 MHz, 3 to 500 MHz, and 0.5 MHz to 6 GHz. Fields were measured at 0.5 m space intervals in JOH-58A, JUH-1H, and JUH-60A helicopters with systems off, operating RPM, 5-ft hover, 50-ft hover, and cruise. Electric fields in the environment were homogeneous and less than 0.1 V/m. Fields in the helicopters increased during ascent, but remained less than 2 V/m except during radio transmissions. EMI effect of the Physio Control Lifepack 8 was demonstrated during FM radio transmission. The results are useful in evaluating electromagnetic emissions and predicting operations that may result in an inflight malfunction of a medical device or aircraft system.
authors.affiliation: Army Program for Test and Evaluation of Aeromedical Equipment, U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL 36362-5292.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bruckart
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000401:Aircraft; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008887:Military Medicine; D014481:United States