USAARL Researcher Receives Haley Award

Posted July 12th, 2018
Story by: Catherine Davis, USAARL Public Affairs Officer

FORT RUCKER, Ala. – The Army Aviation Medical Association recognizes through the Joseph Haley Writing Award, which began in 1995, the most outstanding contribution to rotary-wing aeromedical literature during the previous year.

At the Aerospace Medical Association's 89th Annual Scientific Meeting, Charles Weisenbach, biomechanical engineer at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, received the 2018 Joseph Haley Writing Award for the manuscript titled "Patient litter system response in a full-scale CH-46 crash test." Weisenbach's co-authors are Tyler Rooks, Troy Bowman, Vince Fralish, and Joe McEntire.

Weisenbach's paper describes how simulated patients bound to litter systems are affected during a full scale CH-46 crash. The test assessed patient and litter system response during a simulated severe but survivable crash event. The results suggest that a traditional litter system may not effectively restrain patients during a dynamic crash event and improvements to litter systems are needed to provide supine patients with levels of protection equivalent to that of seated occupants.

"Joseph Haley dedicated his life to researching aircrew survivability, and it is an honor to be recognized with this award," said Weisenbach. "We hope the findings from our work will help in the future development of improved crashworthy litter systems."

Dr. John Crowley, Joseph Haley Writing Award committee chairman, explained that the award committee is made up of experienced Army flight surgeons. The committee selects the awardee from a list of around 10 finalists that are identified from the results of a worldwide literature search for rotary-wing aviation medicine articles. The finalists' articles are read by all committee members and ranked based on scientific content, relevance, and overall appeal.

Weisenbach is a Laulima Government Solutions, LLC employee working in USAARL's Injury Biomechanics Division. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's in interdisciplinary science with a concentration in biomechanics. Weisenbach has been a part of several projects at USAARL, but his main focus is in head and face protection research.

The award winning paper can be read in Military Medicine, volume 182, March/April supplement, pages 287-294.

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