Sebastian Ghinet

Investigation of aircrew noise exposure levels and hearing protection solutions in helicopter cabin

High noise levels in the helicopter cabin adversely affect aircrew communication and reduce comfort in the short-term and may lead to hearing loss in the long-term if flight helmets cannot provide sufficient protection to the aircrew. A cabin noise exposure survey has been performed on a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-147F Chinook heavy lift helicopter to evaluate the noise environment and noise protection performance of the flight helmet. Investigation results showed that the low-frequency noise attenuation provided by the Royal Canadian Air Force flight helmet was marginal in high-speed flight conditions that generate loud cabin noise. Therefore, in-canal earphone integrated with active noise cancellation capability was investigated to provide enhanced noise protection and improve clarity in voice communication. Simulation and proof-of-concept test results verified that active noise cancellation in-canal earphones can serve as a feasible technical solution to provide enhanced noise attenuation to mitigate the low-frequency N/rev tonal noise generated by the aerodynamic pressure from the helicopter rotor blades.