Analysis of the facial measurements of Korean Air Force pilots for oxygen mask design

Abstract

This study measured the facial dimensions of Korean Air Force (KAF) pilots, to design a pilot oxygen mask, and compared them with those of Korean civilians and US Air Force (USAF) personnel. Twenty-two facial dimensions were measured for 278 KAF male pilots (KMP) and 58 KAF female pilots and cadets (KFP) using an anthropometer and a three-dimensional scanner. The KMP face measurements were found to be significantly larger (mean difference,  = 0.7–26.5 mm) and less varied (ratio of SDs = 0.29–0.82) than those of Korean male civilians. The average face length, lip width and nasal root breadth of the KMP were significantly longer ( = 4.7 mm), narrower ( = − 2.4 mm), and wider ( = 5.2 mm), respectively, than those of USAF male personnel. Lastly, the KMP face measurements were significantly larger ( = 1.8–26.1 mm) than those of the KFP.

Practitioner Summary: The face measurements of KAF pilots were collected and compared with those of Korean civilians and USAF personnel. The distinct facial features of the populations identified in this study are applicable to custom design of an oxygen mask for prevention of excessive pressure and oxygen leakage.

Keywords:

• oxygen mask design
• face measurement
• anthropometer
• 3D scanner
• Korean pilots

Acknowledgements

This study was jointly supported by Air Force Logistics Command grant funded by Republic of Korea Air Force, the Basic Science Research Programme through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2010-0012291) and the IT Consilience Creative Programme of MKE and NIPA (C1515-1121-0003). The authors appreciate the assistance of Younggeun Choi, Donghoon Son, Baekhee Lee and Jihyun Ha in face measurement.