FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-80/2

Title and Subtitle: Cosmic radiation exposure during air travel

Report Date: March 1980

Authors: Friedberg W, Neas BR

Abstract: In 1967 the FAA appointed an advisory committee on radiation biology aspects of SST flight. Some of the committee members were subsequently appointed to a working group to study radiation exposure during air travel in conventional jet aircraft.

Presented here, in some cases in revised form, is selected material from the final reports of the full committee and the working group and related material from other sources. Included are:

1. brief descriptions of the galactic and solar cosmic radiation environment;
2. estimates of accumulated radiation dose during air travel and associated risks of genetic and somatic effects;
3. altitude, solar cycle, and geomagnetic latitude profiles of galactic radiation;
4. radiation protection recommendations by the committee;
5. current status of forecasts and monitoring of solar cosmic radiation events; and
6. operational experience related to Concorde flights.

Key Words: Cosmic radiation, Supersonic transport, Conventional jet aircraft, Risks of radiation injury, Radiation protection

No. of Pages: 26