High Frequency Hearing Loss in an F-100 Squadron

Abstract

The occurrence of a significant number of acute hearing losses among the pilots of a US Air Force tactical fighter squadron (F-100 aircraft) was documented. Five other F-100 squadrons located within a 50 mile radius were surveyed and no problem of similar proportions was encountered elsewhere. The total environment, both ground and inflight, was investigated in an attempt to pinpoint the causes of the observed hearing damage. Two primary contributing factors were implicated: (1) an excessively noisy ground environment and (2) excessive in-flight noise exposure resulting from high ambient cockpit noise levels together with inadequate noise attentuation by the helmet- headset then in use by the squadron pilots. The composite noise exposure time accounted for the observed hearing losses among pilots of the involved squadron.