US Defense Department Back Pain Survey
 

Current and Former US Military helicopter pilots and crewmembers are urged to take an anonymous online survey that has been approved by the Defense Department. URL: www.DoDhelicopterseatsurvey.com Available: 1 April - 30 April 2011. This survey seeks information about experience with back, neck and leg pain that may be related to helicopter service, and possibly to inadequate seat design. Results of the survey will be part of a business case analysis submitted to the Secretary of Defense with recommendations for changes that can eliminate back pain, including career-ending surgery, that reduces readiness and safety in our military helicopter community. We urge you to take this survey - now - during the month of April 2011. Thank you!

Forty years and tens of thousands of backs ruined by Bell Helicopters....and now the Military wants to do a study?:rolleyes:

Like there has never been a complaint made before?:ugh:

Can we have a UK one too, please? The gazelle seat was designed to contort the spine!

Well.... I am not military but.... neck pain ya. Thats what you get for hanging out the bubble for 20 years.

Back pain
 

One non US, non Military testimony:

5 years ago I developed pretty severe back pains. In part thanks to a previous thread here on PPRune, referring to previous military studies that Heli pilot are very prone to disco-pathy, I assumed that I should trace it back mainly to a new Heli (one that apparently vibrated differently/more). I put a silicon air cushion to take away the MR vib's. Been happily flying ever since.

So they better spend there money right away on designing some decent seats....

Don't waste time on another study, while keeping injuring back's in the mean while SIR...


m2c
d3

Horrible back pains when I flew 47's & 206's. Disappeared when we changed to Robinsons even though the seats don't look anything special. Maybe Frank new a bit about ergonomics that he could pass on to some of the big outfits where the seats seem to have been designed by the work experience guy on a bad Monday.

206 caused the most discomfort of any aircraft i've flown, absolute nightmare.
:mad: