RWS 23 – Helicopter Helmets with Mark Jones

To take us through everything you ever wanted to know about helicopter aircrew helmets we are joined today by Mark Jones of Gentex Aircrew Systems. The modern helmet does much more than just provide head protection as you are about to find out. Should you get one? What should you look for in a helmet? …

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The post RWS 23 – Helicopter Helmets with Mark Jones appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Mark Jones is Snr Product Specialist, Aircrew Systems at Gentex Corp and has 42 years of life support equipment experience.

To take us through everything you ever wanted to know about helicopter aircrew helmets we are joined today by Mark Jones of Gentex Aircrew Systems. The modern helmet does much more than just provide head protection as you are about to find out.

Should you get one?
What should you look for in a helmet?
Fitting advice
And how to take care of your helmet so it lasts

That’s some of the topics we cover in this episode.

Most of us would associate helmets with head protection in the event of a crash. Strangely enough that wasn’t the reason aircrew first started to wear them. Early aviation helmets first provided a way to keep aircrew heads warm.

Then came the need to provide radio communication ear cups and later a method of affixing oxygen masks.

[Tweet “When things go south in a helicopter everything wants to stab at you/puncture holes in your helmet”]

The modern helicopter helmet has a big focus on crash protection as seen in the bulk of styrofoam that they contain. We also now use them to mount visors, microphones, NVDs, HUDs, torches, gas masks, face shields and more advanced audio electronics.

Not to mention a place to mount cool helmet patches!

After listening to this interview you will have a much great appreciation for the design that goes into a helmet and the job that it does for you. You might even be able to get a discount on your flight insurance to help offset the initial investment.

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In this week’s episode:

01:08 Helicopter Aircrew Helmets – Mark Jones, Gentex

02:02 HAI Heli-Expo 2015 – past guests Shawn Coyle, Robert Feerst

02:45 World Helicopter Day events 16 Aug 2015

04:25 42 years working on aircrew helmets and Mark’s role at Gentex

06:23 F-117 Stealth Fighter

08:00 Working at Gentex day to day

09:15 The case for wearing a helicopter helmet

11:50 Gentex company background and shift into helmets

15:15 First pilot helmets and helicopter roles

17:05 Other functions of a helmet + G-force absorption

19:09 Noise attenuation

20:30 Anatomy and construction of a helicopter helmet

26:10 Thermal plastic liner (TPL)

27:53 Helicopter helmets vs jets vs motorbikes

28:55 What to look for in a helicopter helmet

31:30 Minimising helmet hot spots

34:00 Wearing glasses under helmet earcups – 2-fold problem

36:40 Looking after your helmet and servicing

38:50 External scratches and impact on helmet protection

41:50 Helmet warranties and costs(/investment)

44:10 Buying 2nd hand helmet – helmet inspection

46:00 Active noise reduction (ANR) and Communications Ear Plugs (CEP)

48:35 Final tips and future advances

51:10 Insurance company discounts on flight insurance

52:40 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com

Links from this week’s episode:

Gentex Helicopter Helmets Webpage

US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory

World Helicopter Day

Documentary on the evolution of the US Army helicopter helmet

[leadplayer_vid id=”54E70B247B9F8″]

[Tweet “85% of impact protection is provided by the styrofoam layer in the helmet”]

[Tweet “DO NOT compress the styrofoam to try and get rid of helmet hot spots”]

Modern helicopter aircrew helmets mount a whole range of accessory items.

Questions / comments? Be part of the conversation in the comments section below.

The post RWS 23 – Helicopter Helmets with Mark Jones appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.