At a glance
| Customer | Shin Nihon Helicopter Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, helicopter operations and aircraft maintenance |
| Work | Ground maintenance at a heliport and hangar |
| Heat challenge | No shade on the ramp, a hot and humid hangar |
| Product | Kuchofuku fan-cooled jackets (the Japanese line from the same group as ZIPPKOOL) |
| In use since | 2019 |
About the company
The operator has flown for more than 60 years, mainly patrol flights along power transmission lines and transport of materials for construction.
The problem
A heliport can't have anything that gets in the way of landings, so there's almost no shade. The ground is asphalt or covered in steel plates, which reflect the heat back up.
The hangar has a roof, but the base is near the sea, so summers are humid and hot inside. The hangar already had spot coolers and fans, and the maintenance manager said concentration still dropped when it got hot. Before the company tried fan-cooled clothing, some mechanics had shown early signs of heat illness.
Why they chose fan-cooled jackets
The maintenance manager said his team compared about 15 makers online and at an exhibition, trying the garments in person before choosing.
What the crew says
"The heliport has no shade, and the ground is asphalt or covered with steel plates, so the reflected heat is harsh. Outdoor maintenance in summer is tough. Since I started wearing it, the heat feels easier to take. In the hangar, I walk over to the spot cooler less often, and I'm less tired at the end of the day."
Translated from Japanese. Maintenance crew member, helicopter operator.
What this means for a US maintenance crew
- The ground matters as much as the air. Asphalt and steel plates reflect heat back at workers, so a shade-free ramp is hotter than the forecast.
- Fixed cooling cools one place. Spot coolers and fans help only near them. Personal cooling moves with the worker.
- Humidity matters. A hangar near the coast is humid, and fan-cooled gear works less well in sustained very high humidity.
Safety note
This story covers ground maintenance only. ZIPPKOOL garments are not flame-resistant and not intrinsically safe. Do not use them near aircraft fueling, fuel vapors, or hot work, and do not use them in flight.
Fans inflate the garment. Near rotors, propellers, tools, and other moving parts, switch the fans off and keep the garment zipped. Follow your employer's PPE and safety rules.
For US crews
The garments in this story were Kuchofuku jackets. ZIPPKOOL's garments are hi-vis yellow-green: the HVN-510U short-sleeve jacket (ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R, Class 3) and the HVN-400U vest (Type R, Class 2).
Talk to us about your crew
Volume pricing, Net 30 terms available for qualified business accounts, and complete compliance documentation for your approval process.
