Improved Communications and Hearing Protection for Army Aviation

A warfighter must be able to communicate. Communication is critical to lethality, survivability, and operational tempo. However, Army rotorcraft are notoriously noisy environments. Noise makes communication very challenging, especially in the high-stress and high-workload conditions of Army aviation. High noise within the cabin makes it difficult to hear and interpret speech coming from the radios and rotorcraft ICS. This can slow response times, which can put the mission or aircrew safety at risk. Furthermore, high noise levels put the aircrew at risk for hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which increase disability and reduce quality of life. We propose to develop an upgraded HGU-56/P communication system incorporating improved active and passive noise reduction. We will adapt existing products and technology to the Army aviation environment and validate through laboratory and human tests.