Sun ray study on planes

LONDON - The risk to airline passengers and crew from cosmic radiation is to be measured.

The study will investigate the harmful rays from the sun and their possible effects on flyers.

A long-haul flight at 35,000ft is said to result in radiation exposure equivalent to a chest x-ray and, while passengers are not thought to be at great risk, frequent exposure to this radiation, which is unfiltered by the atmosphere at high altitudes, is known to cause cancer.

The study, started last week, will monitor cabin crew and frequent flyers, who are thought to be most at risk, and will involve fitting measuring equipment to Virgin Airlines planes.

The European Union has directed since May that all airline pilots and cabin crew on European flights be regularly tested for overdoses of radiation.

Most aviation experts believe the radiation in an aircraft during flight falls within natural levels, although airlines already consider the potential risks to crew members. Legislation requires that radiation doses be kept "as low as achievable" for pregnant crew, and it is common for them to be assigned ground duties.

Robin Hunter, the medical director of the Civil Aviation Authority, said: "We need a better understanding of the factors that may cause the radiation dose rates in aircraft to vary.

"In particular, we need to determine the influence of solar activity. For frequent flyers and air crew, the accumulated dose may be significant."

- INDEPENDENT