Energy cost of Piloting fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft

¹ US Army Aeromedical Research Unit, Fort Rucker, Alabama 36360; and US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts 01760

The energy cost of piloting three US Army helicopters (light, utility, and medium) and one utility fixed-wing aircraft was investigated. Energy expenditure was calculated from expired minute volume and expired air oxygen content measured during the basal state and in normal flight conditions. Data were collected on a total of 16 pilots, 5 of whom flew all three helicopters. All of the helicopter pilots were experienced test pilots. The data indicate that, for these pilots, and flying conditions studied (level flight in good weather) and aircraft, the energy cost must be classed as very light work, averaging 1.79 kcal/min. The energy cost of flying the fixed-wing aircraft by less experienced pilots was similar to previously reported energy expenditures for such aircraft. The data were segregated to separate measurements made at altitude from those made during flight in close proximity to the ground (take off, hover, etc). In three of the four aircraft, the pilot's energy expenditure was greater when ground contact was possible.

Submitted on August 12, 1968