The Impact of Aircraft Noise and Compliance with the Use of Personal Protective Equipment on Hearing Impairment in Pilot Cadets at Indonesian Civil Pilot Academy - Banyuwangi

Abstract

Noise in the workplace is a health issue in several countries. Similarly, in the aerospace industry, advanced aircraft, whether for civilian transportation or military purposes, pose risks due to exposure to aircraft noise, which passengers are continuously subjected to at relatively higher intensities and for prolonged periods. The problem of this research is to identify, reduce, and prevent the impact of aircraft noise and compliance with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) on hearing impairment among cadet pilots at the Indonesian Aviation Academy in Banyuwangi. The research objective includes collecting medical records of 57 cadets, measuring aircraft noise levels, and conducting a questionnaire survey. The method used in this study is descriptive quantitative, with 57 respondents. Data analysis was performed to determine the compliance of cadets with PPE usage at the Indonesian Aviation Academy in Banyuwangi. The results show that the noise produced by the aircraft operated by the academy exceeds the permissible noise level (PNL), and the questionnaire results indicate low compliance with PPE usage. However, medical record data reveal that the majority of cadets still have normal hearing, with only 12.3% or 7 respondents categorized as having mild hearing impairment. These findings imply a positive and significant influence of aircraft noise level and PPE compliance on hearing impairment among trainees.