BY DR. DUDLEY CROSSON
we looked at the helmet. Now I would like to consider all other components of what a flight crew should wear.
T
FLIGHTS SUITS Flight suits can be comfortable in some
ways, and uncomfortable in others. While in nominal conditions they feel fine, hav- ing to wear them in hot and humid weather has a tendency to change one’s at- titude. In either case, they must meet a certain criteria in order to provide ade- quate protection. First and foremost, they must be both long-sleeved and made of some fire-resistant material such as Nomex®
This is the concluding part of our article on Personal Pro- tective Equipment (PPE) / Aviation Life Support Equip- ment (ALSE). Last month
. It is not wise to allow short-
sleeved and/or polyester flight suits. Poly- ester exposed to fire responds much like shrink-wrap. It will shrink and adhere to the body. Short-sleeved flight suits simply do not provide enough coverage. Along with a long-sleeved fire resistant garment, one should always wear under- wear. The way a flight suit provides pro- tection is it provides a layer of air between the user and the garment. Prior to launch, it is important to have the flight suit zipped up, gloves on and tucked in the sleeves, sleeves down and secured around the gloves, collar up to protect the neck, and legs zipped and long enough to pro- vide coverage over the boots. While underwear is not commonly dis-
cussed, it can provide a much-needed layer of protection. Wearing underwear places another layer, which creates an air- cloth-air-cloth envelope. This illustrates an important point; the flight suit should never be tight fitting. The tighter the suit, the less air space provided. A t-shirt should always be tucked in, so that in the case of fire it helps keep the elastic on the underpants from melting to the skin. In the case of bras, a jogging bra provides cotton coverage around the elastic por- tion. Underwear should be made from
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