Audit: Super Hornet a noise risk for sailors

[unhappycamper]

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Swordsmen" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32 launches May 31 from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during the last fly off of the deployment in the Atlantic Ocean.


Audit: Super Hornet a noise risk for sailors
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 7, 2009 9:46:39 EST

Navy officials who helped design and purchase F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in the 1990s failed to initially consider ways to reduce the fighter jet’s deafening noise level, putting today’s flight-deck sailors at risk for hearing damage, according to a Naval Audit Service report.

Even when flight deck crews wear earplugs and cranials, Super Hornets are dangerously loud. Noise levels are near 150 decibels, a sound blast far beyond the hazard level of 84 decibels for civilian jobs, the audit service found.

Navy officials who developed the Boeing-made jet and the similar EA-18G Growler “made no initial attempt to mitigate the flight-line/deck jet noise hazard through design selection,” according to the report. “We also found that there was no mention of noise limitations in the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G acquisition strategy and contract Statement of Work.”

The report was published internally in October. Navy Times obtained it through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The Super Hornet program office at Naval Air Systems Command declined a Navy Times request for comment on the report.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/03/navy_loudhornets_030709w/%2e



uhc comment: If you think the F/A-18 is noisy, wait until you hear the F-35.

[Ian David]

1. WHAT??

Seriously, though...

Maybe they can just turn-off their engines about a mile away from the carrier and glide to an un-powered landing to reduce noise.

If Sully can do it with a jumbo jet...

Oh, yeah.

He landed in the water.

[MADem]

2. HUH????

Say that again?

There was NO MENTION of noise limitations in the statement of work?

Jesus.

[unhappycamper]

3. Guess who makes the engines for these bad boys.

The "We bring good things to life" folks.

[Angleae]

4. Every jet engine is a noise risk.

There isn't one single jet turbine engine that isn't loud enough to cause daamge.

[Obamanaut]

5. I don't know the decibel level, but standing between two F4's on

the catapults (carrier deck) in afterburner was a teeth-rattling experience. And I loved it!