Characterization of Radiation Exposure at Aviation Flight Altitudes
Using the Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing Radiation System (NAIRAS)
Abstract
Exposure to ionizing radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar
energetic particles (SEP) at aircraft flight altitudes can have an
adverse effect on human health. Although airline crews are classified as
radiation workers by the International Commission on Radiological
Protection (ICRP), in most countries, their level of exposure is
unquantified and undocumented throughout the duration of their career.
As such, there is a need to assess pilot ionizing radiation exposure.
The Nowcast of Aerospace Ionizing RAdiation System (NAIRAS), a
real-time, global, physics-based model is used to assess such exposure.
The Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS)
measurement dataset consists of high latitude, high altitude, and
long-duration aircraft flights between 2013-2023. Here, we characterize
radiation exposure at aviation flight altitudes using the NAIRAS model
and compare with 45 flight trajectories from the recent ARMAS flight
measurement inventory.