Photo by Doug Curran

Can the aircraft crash safely? This isn’t a common question asked when it comes to military aviation. Usually, questions about systems like engines, avionics, or weapons get the attention yet there’s a relatively small and unknown ecosystem that does partially answer the crash question. It’s called the human system and it is comprised of equipment, personnel, and industry partners that provide solutions to these unique flight scenarios. The human system provides life-saving and performance-enhancing equipment to aid aviators and passengers adapt to “challenges” experienced during flight. The simplest way to describe the human system is to separate it into two areas, aviator and aircraft. Here’s an introduction to some basic human systems equipment.

Aviator Equipment

Simply put, this is equipment that is worn by the aviator to enhance performance or aid in an emergency situation. The human system has a vast inventory of aviator-worn equipment and can differ greatly depending on the aircraft type or mission. The aviator equipment foundation starts with clothing.

Flight clothing includes items such as the flight suit, boots, and gloves.  All require certain properties such comfort, safety, and flame resistance.  Flight clothing can be expanded to meet environmental requirements as well.  Articles like jackets, winter boots, and water exposure suits can be added to the wearer to help maintain body temp.

Helmets and helmet mounted equipment are important not only for protection but also to enhance performance.  The helmet is vital in ensuring the aviator is protected from head injuries on the flight deck or in the cargo area.  Additionally, head protection is needed in case of an ejection or bailout.

The helmet is also great for accessory management.  Items such as earphones, earbuds, microphones, and visors are all mounted on the helmet.  Also, night vision goggles, helmet mounted displays, and oxygen masks integrate with the helmet so they can be worn during flight.

Respiratory requirements play an important role in ensuring an aviator can breathe at high altitudes, mitigate physiological incidents, and counter contaminated environments.  Military aircraft either require a constant-wear oxygen mask or rapid access to an emergency oxygen mask if they fly above certain altitudes or have emergencies such as rapid aircraft decompression.

Moving to equipment below the neck, there are a number helpful equipment items for the aviator. Restraint harnesses are required on most aircraft. Harnesses are used in ejection platforms to keep the aviator in the seat and also to ensure integration with the parachute. Back style and chest style parachutes are also attached to the body via a harness. Restraint harnesses and belts are also provided to secure aircrew in a cargo bay or rotary platform.

The survival vest has also become a staple during combat missions to carry escape, evasion, and signaling equipment. The survival vest is designed to ensure the aviator has basic survival equipment attached to their body after egressing a downed aircraft. Some vests offer body armor integration. The vest contains pockets that store equipment such as signal flares, radio, medical kit, compass, signal mirror, and side arm. Survival equipment and vest type can vary based on aircraft and mission.

Aircraft Equipment

Aircraft-installed equipment essentially means items that are already loaded or integrated into an aircraft.  The emergency items positioned on an aircraft is often similar but the equipment can vary by the platform type.  Probably the most familiar item is the ejection seat.  Ejection seats are installed on fighter/attack aircraft to provide a last option to escape an unrecoverable aircraft.  Within the ejection seat is a parachute, oxygen bottle, and survival kit.  The pilot is attached to all of these items via a lap belt, the aforementioned torso harness, and oxygen connections.  For large frame and rotary platforms, there are no ejection seats and the aircraft-installed equipment can vary with items like oxygen masks, life preservers, parachutes, and life rafts.

The human system has a massive collection of equipment to enhance military aviators and aircraft.  Among other major aircraft systems, the human system gets little fanfare unless discussing emergency procedures or human performance.  The professionals specializing in this ecosystem have a unique job of providing equipment that helps an aviator perform beyond human thresholds or survive and emergency.  Even with the human system getting little fanfare across aircraft communities, it’s treasured by the aviator in a time of need.  

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