Measurements of the high energy neutron component of cosmic radiation fields in aircraft casing etched track dosemeters

Measurements of the complex cosmic radiation field in aircraft at altitude are made with a passive survey meter comprising routine-use thermoluminesce nt detectors and etched track detectors. The energy dependence of response of the etched track detectors used to determine the neutron component has b een characterized, partly, up to a neutron energy of 180 MeV. The neutron d etectors are routinely calibrated in the CERN/EC Reference Field. The 15% d etermination level for total dose equivalent is 100 mu SV. The evidence is that the passive survey meter provides a reliable determination of route do se. (C) 2001 National Radiological Protection Board. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.