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High altitude flight operations expose flight crew to increased levels of cosmic radiation. The four main factors influencing the level of radiation, in order of their relative importance, are…

  • A
    altitude, latitude, normal solar activity, and random solar activity (e.g. solar flares).
  • B
    altitude, latitude, solar activity (e.g. solar flares), and height of the ionosphere.
  • C
    altitude, airspeed, the Earth’s magnetic field, and solar activity (e.g. solar flares).
  • D
    latitude, altitude, space weather (e.g. solar storms), and the Earth’s magnetic field.

All people on Earth are exposed in some way to cosmic radiation. But crews on long-distance flights are exposed to much higher levels than the general population.

The amount of cosmic radiation you are exposed to while flying depends on four factors: altitude, latitude, and solar activity (normal and random solar activity). The fourth factor is the duration of the flight. In general, the higher the altitude and latitude and the longer the flight, the greater the radiation exposure. It is important to point that the effects of radiation are cumulative, increasing with exposure time.

The Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic shield protect us from cosmic radiation. Earth’s magnetic shield protects us from the cosmic radiation and is strongest at the equator and weakest near the poles. People who live at higher latitudes are exposed to slightly more cosmic radiation than people who live at lower latitudes.
At higher altitudes, people are also exposed to more radiation. The main reason is that there is less atmosphere between us and the cosmic rays.
Solar events can raise radiation levels. Solar events include solar flares and coronal mass ejections, as well as other events. Solar flares are when sunspots interact with one another and cause an explosion on the Sun’s surface.

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