Protective effect of helmet gentex hgo-56/p on hearing loss among military helicopter pilots

Aviation noise represents an important hazard for hearing loss among military pilots as they are continuously exposed to excessive noise during flight operations. Modern military aircraft, due to their maneuverability and tactical capabilities, require increasing engine power, while noise protection is limited only to the personal protective equipment which protects to a limited extent. Previous generations of helicopter pilots in the Croatian Air Force (CAF) used GSSH-A-18 headphones, whereas Gentex HGU-56/P helmets have been in use in CAF since 2004, primarily as mechanical protection for the head and secondarily to protect hearing. A study on hearing threshold measurements was performed on multi-purpose transport helicopter pilots who used headphones and helmets, respectively. The population of pilots who used GSSH-A-18 headphones had significantly higher hearing loss at higher frequencies, in the left ear, and in the speech area compared to the group using Gentex HGU-56/P helmets. The results of this study confirm the benefit of using of the Gentex HGU-56/P helmet to preserve the pilots’ hearing.