Estimated metabolic heat production of helicopter aircrew members during Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

Estimated Metabolic Heat Production of Helicopter Aircrew Members during Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan


http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a558580.pdf
ARMY RESEARCH INST OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE NATICK MA BIOPHYSICS AND BIOMEDICAL MODELING DIV

USARIEM T12-03 April 2012
Tharion, William J ; Goetz, Victoria ; Yokota, Miyo


The degree of heat strain experienced by helicopter Aircrew varies with environmental condition, the physical demands of the mission, clothing and equipment worn, and individual characteristics such as age, height, weight, percent body fat, degree of heat acclimation, pharmaceutical use, and physical fitness. The level of heat strain in Aircrew members conducting in-theater operations is unknown. Methods: Male Aircrew members (n = 18, age: 35 + 8 yrs, wt: 87 + 10 kg, ht: 178 + 7 cm; mean + standard deviation)with in-theater operational experience served as test volunteers. Participants included Aircrew members from Blackhawk (UH-60) or Chinook (CH-47) helicopters. Individual energy expenditures in kilocalories (kcal) were determined for each period of activity. Total training day energy expenditure was estimated from the various activities an individual performed. Metabolic heat was estimated using a mechanical efficiency of 20% for human movement and a standardized conversion to watts (W) (1 kcal/hr = 1.163 W) as needed.


FLIGHT CREWS, *HEAT PRODUCTION(BIOLOGY), *METABOLISM, AFGHANISTAN, ENERGY CONSUMPTION, HELICOPTERS, IRAQ, PHYSICAL FITNESS