A comparative study of G-induced neck injury in pilots of the F/A-18, A-7, and A-4.
The introduction of the high performance F/A-18 into the Navy and Marine Corps units has brought attention to the problem of high +Gx-induced neck pain and injury. Aviators from the Light Attack Wing, Pacific were surveyed and the results were categorized by aircraft type. We found that 74% of F/A-18 aviators surveyed reported neck pain with high +Gz. Out of 37 pilots reporting neck injury, 11 required removal from flight status averaging 3 days. The inability to function effectively during high G flight and the impact of lost pilot days highlight the need for further study into prevalence and solutions for high +Gz-induced neck injury.
Knudson
R
R
Aviation Medicine Division, Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California.
McMillan
D
D
Doucette
D
D
Seidel
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D006112:Gravitation; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D019838:Neck Injuries; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture