Page 45 - AA 2018_09

Fighter fit

the average population. This was and the lifting and twisting and
surprising since we assumed aircrew movement. Air Force is currently
had strong necks because we’re developing studies to try to identify
putting them under load every day. their problems and their risk, and
“The hypothesis here is that the to implement some mitigation
soft tissue injuries we induce under strategies.”
G cause the body to protect and shut The Williamtown program has now
down those neck muscles, and then been rolled out at RAAF Amberley,
our bodies recruit other muscles in and similar programs are being
the back and shoulders to do the implemented at Tindal and Pearce.
work. This causes other referred pain The Williamtown facility is located
in the upper back. This has been one in the 76SQN headquarters in space
of the most interesting areas of the formerly occupied by the old Hawk
program considering how long we’ve simulators. This is a central location
known about aircrew having neck on base, so it is planned for it to
injuries.’’ remain there due to its proximity to
WGCDR Almenara said this is the new F-35 squadron headquarters
probably the first time the RAAF has buildings being constructed across the
started to look more closely at these road.
rotation aspects and what’s going on “The impact of driving around the
with the associated muscles. base for 10 minutes to the gym and
“As someone who has had neck having to get changed for the drive
pain for a number of years, all of this over there, is enough for it just to be
makes a lot of sense to me,” he said. too much of an impact on the routine,”
“So, regardless of how accurate this WGCDR Almenara said.
data is in terms of the population “So, with the amount that the
reference, the fact that we are seeing architects aim to appeal to and count A fighter pilot’s head and helmet squadrons have going on at the
these trends and the referred pain, on the natural competitive nature of will weigh up to 70 or 80kg while moment, I’m trying to make it as
it all points to conditioning these the aircrew to ensure their units are manoeuvring. mark jessop convenient as possible. The facilities
rotation muscles is really important to compliant. at the other bases are being positioned
protect our necks and backs. It’s only a “We are relying on our very with similar considerations in mind.”
small sample size at the moment, but competitive fighter pilot community,” The early results have been so
we have seen significant improvement WGCDR Almenara said. “There is also encouraging that, with word spreading
in these symptoms so far with this an element of generational change though the fighter pilot network,
conditioning.” as well. For all of the trainee aircrew, some allied air forces have expressed
But apart from the challenge of this is now a part of their normal daily an interest in conducting their own
how to implement Fighter Fit, there work routine. Within three or four program.
was still the issue of overcoming the years’ time they’ll make up 80 per cent “The Canadians have contacted
fighter pilot’s natural tendency to live of the squadrons, and it will then be me because they have defined their
with pain, and the difficulty of finding the cultural norm.” problem and they are very keen to
the necessary time in their busy understand our program and see
schedules. Rollout what they can take away,” WGCDR
“We do need compliance otherwise While Fighter Fit is currently being Almenara said. “We have also had
we don’t mitigate anything,” said funded through ACG, its early success some interest from the US Navy. And
WGCDR Almenara. “It is now part has led to considerable interest in the RAF is keen to see what we were
of our duty of care, so it’s compulsory adopting this model not only across doing after we went and looked at
while aircrew are in training. We are other elements of ACG and Air Force, their program last year.”
conditioning their necks and backs to but also in other branches of the ADF. It’s fair to say that the
cope with their job requirements. It Other areas in Air Force to consider implementation and running of
is part of ACG’s duty of care to make the benefits of the program include Fighter Fit costs real money, but the
sure we don’t injure aircrew while the combat controllers from 4SQN, capability addition by ensuring more
they are doing their jobs as much as the loadmaster community within Air fighter aircrew are available to fly and
reasonably practical. Mobility Group (AMG), and the air potential savings the program can
“For the rest of the aircrew, these movements community within the make in terms of preventing injuries
tools are available for squadron RAAF’s Combat Support Group. ‘We are or even early retirements cannot be
executives to manage their risk on Loadmasters are tasked with lifting understated.
behalf of the Commander of ACG. heavy weights, tying down loads, and relying on “At the end of the day, I don’t
We fit it into their flying program as moving about confined spaces in a think the expense is that great
flexibly as possible.” transport aircraft cargo hold, often our very compared to what it costs to train our
The program won’t be compulsory during turbulent low-level flight. people to fly our aircraft,” WGCDR
for qualified aircrew, however “Their injuries are different to fast competitive Almenara said in closing. “It’s
compliance will be monitored and if jet aircrew, so Air Command and actually a fairly moderate expense,
squadron executives aren’t meeting AMG are looking at possibly tailoring fighter pilot especially compared to all of the other
recommended levels of compliance this program for loadmasters as well,” engineering options we could have
and fitness results, they’ll have to GPCAPT Hake said. community’ investigated. It’s a drop in the ocean
explain why. Indeed, rather than “Loadmasters get a lot of ‘black and by comparison and it’s going to have a
make it a burden, the program’s blue’ due to the unsteady platform WGCDR CARLOS ALMENARA much greater effect.”
SEPTEMBER 2018 45