E-3 In-Flight Acoustic Exposure Studies and Mitigation Via Active Noise Reduction Headset

Abstract : Recordings of the noise environment aboard an E-3 AWACS aircraft were made. The measurements were accomplished according to standard procedures of AFRL Aural Displays and Bioacoustics Branch. The measurements were made at various locations in the aircraft during a training sortie. The measurements were accomplished with the current hearing protection device (a David Clark HlO76 headset) and an Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset (a David Clark H1O76-XL). It was determined that the maximum acoustic dose per day for each location was not reached in typical mission durations. But it was found that the ANR headset did provide attenuation comparable to the current headset. The "Net 4" condition, where one ear cup is worn off of the ear to allow person-to-person communication, made the aircrew reach the daily acoustic exposure in less than 16 hours for most of the positions.