COSMIC-RADIATION IN CONCORD OPERATIONS AND THE IMPACT OF NEW ICRP RECOMMENDATIONS ON COMMERCIAL AVIATION

The new ICRP 60 recommendations that exposure to ionising radiation sh ould be limited in the workplace to 20 mSv.y-1 and for the public to 1 mSv.y-1 and that cosmic radiation to aircrew should be considered as occupational exposure, could have significant implications for commerc ial aviation. Examination of 20 years of cosmic radiation data collect ed in supersonic Concorde flying operations and estimation of radiatio n levels encountered in subsonic long-haul flights show that both flig ht deck and cabin crew exposures are well within occupational limits a nd below 6 mSv.y-1 which would be the appropriate control limit for th e application of special surveillance measures. In British Airways ope rations, pregnant aircrew are also at no risk of exceeding the new ICR P recommended limits. The very frequent long haul business flyer may n eed to consider exposure as occupational.