Heat Stress Indices in the Hellenic Air Force (HAF)

Abstract

Greece is characterized by very hot weather during summer. Since 1987, Hellenic Air Force (HAF) has adopted the Discomfort Index (DI) as its official heat stress index (HST), nowadays considered as outdated. Because of the disadvantages that DI presents, a study was performed in order to examine the possible application of another heat stress index, more objective and accurate in predicting heat discomfort. For two months the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index was calculated inside a bubble canopy (F-4) and a rotary wing (C-130) aircraft (WBGTa) as well as their respective runway WBGT data (WBGT ground, WBGTg). The same set of data was used to calculate Fighter Index of Thermal Stress (FITS) for the same time period. Flight log of four different AF Bases were accessed in order to determine the possible cancellations of flights due to Indices of Thermal Stress, as calculated. For the bubble canopy aircraft, the WBGTa may be considered equivalent to WBGTg because the aircraft remain on ground stand-by with canopies open. FITS value of 38 was found to be statistically equivalent of DI 28.6. Both were compared to DI currently in use. On this basis, the number of flight cancellations due to WBGTa was limited by 77%, and by 99% due to FITS, as compared to cancellations due to DI. For the rotary wing aircraft, WBGTa and WBGTg were found in statistically significant correlation (t-test, paired, p < 0.0001), therefore the former index may be used to predict the later. The Discomfort Index (DI) may be replaced in the HAF as follows: For ground personnel, by the WBGT Index of thermal stress. For flying personnel, by WBGT for moderate or light work. For aircrew of airborne bubble canopy aircraft FITS (extended range) may be applicable, after elaboration for Mediterranean climatic conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADP012438

Entities

People

  • Elias Chimonas
  • Evangelos Stathogiannis
  • Ioannis Diamantopoulos
  • Loannis Markou

Organizations

  • Hellenic Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Doors
  • Aircrafts
  • Aviation Medicine
  • Cancellation
  • Doors
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Flight
  • Helicopters
  • Humidity
  • Materials
  • Military Personnel
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Thermal Stresses
  • Wet Bulb Temperature

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Exercise and Sports Science.