C-130J Human Vibration

Human exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) has been associated with a variety of changes in health, comfort, and occupational functioning. In the C-130J Hercules aircraft, crews from both Australia and overseas have reported that the vibration in the cargo compartment of the aircraft exceeds previous levels and that it is both annoying and fatigue- promoting. This report examines the issue of human vibration in the C-130J, providing an overview of the characteristics of vibration and human exposure to vibration, as well as a review of studies that have measured the vibration levels in the C-130J. The likely consequences of exposure to vibration in the aircraft are discussed and recommendations for managing the issue are provided.