Pilot And Passenger Vibration Environment Sensitivity

Detuning of the airframe/rotor dynamic system, and various 'anti-vibration' devices have provided significant improvements to the steady state vibration levels of contemporary helicopters. These effects have generally resulted in compliance with existing Military Specifications, but acceptable comfort vibration levels have not necessarily been achieved simultaneously. Available literature on human vibration tests is briefly reviewed, but in nearly all cases little or no correlation can be achieved when applied to the low frequency operating domain of the helicopter. The parameters involved in pilot assessment of cockpit comfort clearly indicate the complexity of the problem of defining realistic criteria, but some work has been done which leads to suggestions for areas of research required.