Helmets
 

OK, I am sure this has been discussed before, but the parachute plane accident thread has brought it to mind. I haven't posted in there for fear of flaming by the righteous brigade.
Over on the Super Cub website (www.supercub.org) there is a largish body of opinion that one of the greatest safety measures you can take in your SC is to wear a helmet.
I am not proposing that Joe Schmoe in his PA28 or C172 or Cirrus should wear one, but people employed in utility aviation and flying less crashworthy aircraft (in the SC your head travels amist a latticework of steel tubes on which to bash yourself) could usefully wear them. Not such a big deal and a good idea?
I am tempted to get a couple. Anyone got any good suggestions or thoughts on this?
QDM

One argument against them is that in a rapid deceleration (crash) they give the wearers head more momentum due to their rather weighty construction, and are therefore increasing the risk of injury.

On the other hand, in a really rapid deceleration, it's likely your head will snap forward hard enough to hit something regardless of what you're wearing, and then a helmet is undoubtedly a good idea!

I know the RAF use them in the Grob 115 Tutor, similar to most GA types, but I've always assumed that's to acclimatise the pilots to wearing helmets in fast jets later. Odd, considering that the majority will end up on choppers or multis though...

Similar vein to the recurrent gloves debate:
Image is irrelevant. Flight safety must overrule.

The RAF takes the view that all pilots should wear helmets. They also mandate parachutes. If you bale out, of course, there is significant risk of head injury unless you wear a helmet, so the two go together.

On the other hand, almost all RAF training involves aeros and formation flying, two circumstances under which baling out might be necessary. For civilian bimbling or even IF, it's probably not really called for.

Tim

Do you know how many times you bang your head in a Helicopter?
Especially when the pilot does a surprise autorotation practice:ugh:

Prob much less of an issue with a modern kevlar hemlet?

I personally do not fly without one. I friend of mine died due to the fact that he was knocked out during the impact, thus unable to flee the ensuing fire.
Another pal has the remains of his bone dome, that he was wearing when his Pitts hit a ditch. The gouge across the top of it caused by the ignition key and various switches is sobering enough.
Even when I had to transit in a cherokee, I sat there helmet and chute!! But you have to admit that if they pulled you out of the wreckage, with a perfectly servicable chute and helmet sat in the luggage compartment. Then that would be even more ridiculous.

No point in a parachute in a PA28 - you just try opening the door in flight...

There was a case of two idiots in a Bonanza who tried some aeros, wearing parachutes. When it started to fall apart they tried to get out. Their bodies were found in the ac, one of them wedged in the door...

Tim

The kevlar shell Gentex HGU-55 is probably the lightest of the lot - the David Clark shells which go over a DC headset are light enough in themselves, but the headset adds quite a lot of weight. Not to mention the, ah, appearance. The UK Alpha helmet in kevlar is also quite light, but comparatively bulky, not to mention expensive to source spares for, whereas the Gentex spares are cheap and easy to come by - but the Alpha I'd argue offers the best protection by a small margin.

Interesting Helmets
 

Maybe a bit fancy but have you looked at Campbell Aero Classics. They do three models, kevlar and carbon fibre mix with built in avionics. I've started saving.....

When I had my engine failure I was wearing a helmet, which undoubtedly saved my life.

I didn't realise it at the time, but the impact split my bonedome in two places at the front on both sides. I was spitting out broken teeth and had a gashed chin from the strap - all caused by the impact, as I realised later. But during my ten days in hospital and having lights shone in my eyes at regular intervals there was never any hint that I might be suffering from concussion or anything worse. It was the chest injuries I suffered which interested the doctors.

I was wearing an Alpha helmet, which was replaced with a newer model. They have good whiplash protection too, with a ratchet to tighten up the neck restraint. They aren't cheap, but I don't begrudge what I spent.

An emergency will happen when you least expect it, so give yourself a chance by being sensibly clothed - no fleeces or trainers - and wear what protection you can. It may save your life too.

RD :ok:

Which of the following is the main reason a PPL would wear a helmet:
a) Wearing a helmet makes them look like a fighter pilot.
b) Wearing a helmet will preserve their life.


I think most PPLs wear a helmet because of answer a) and they justify it with answer b).

And ATPLs wear helmets because? :}

I fly a T6 Texan (Harvard) and always wear one. I think if you are going to do any aerobatics or unusual attitudes in a machine were you nut is close to the canopy or tubing, you should always wear one. I do however agree that the RAF models are very heavy as apposed to my HGU-55 & French CGF Gallet.

Looks silly but....
 

I wear a USAF type bone dome in the Rans S6. I don’t think there is anything less like a fighter aircraft and some times I feel a real pr*t, but on at least one occasion it’s saved me from a good clout on the head.


Another feature is that it’s warm in winter (no cabin heat in my S6). It has DC headset electronics built in and the audio is as good as my ANR headset, without the pressure on the ears/head.


Admittedly when taking people flying, part of my PAX brief is on the lines of ”…don’t worry that I’m wearing a bone dome, I’ve no intention of crashing the aeroplane!”


Safe Flying.
Richard W.

I've often wondered about this and I asked the military guys a while ago here is the link to that thread hope it helps. Let us know how you get on
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=221495
David

Or is it
c) Wearing a helmet is so much easier and less painful than screwing the visor pivots to your head and it also stops the wind blowing your head set off when you've got an open cockpit aircraft! ;)

Also good for birdstrike protection. I clearly need to wear a helmet in my cub cos it goes so fast I might get a bird hit me on the BACK of my head! :} :} :}

eharding, ATPLs can afford helmets because they have jobs.

TheGorrilla, so you'd rather a bird hit your purple-helmet?:oh:

Hey, Gorrilla..........

"Also good for birdstrike protection. I clearly need to wear a helmet in my cub cos it goes so fast I might get a bird hit me on the BACK of my head! "

I thought you always flew with your "birds" in the front seat, to put the C of G back where it ought to be !!! ........and what's all this about hitting them when you take 'em flying ?
'Spose that must be what's happening when you do those wobbly approaches !
Yeh, better keep your helmet on !! :p :ok:

Sleevy Baby!!

Have you ever thought your sex appeal might improve if you wore a helmet?? :eek:

As for hitting birds, not really, more like poking! :mad: