First OfficerAccording to one of my dad's pilot friends, one long haul flight can give one as much radiation as four chest x-rays. This would mean that pilots, and even regular flyers would be much more likely to get cancer.
Is this true?
Does anyone have further information about it?
3 Answers
First Officerhttp://www.sec.noaa.gov/info/RadHaz.html
The NOAA seems to estimate that daily exposure to about 2 hours flight per day, at typical (20,000-40,000 feet) altitude may cause about one extra cancer in a sample of 100,000.
On this basis, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over the issue, and if your ambition is to be a pilot, I'd go for it.
Edit: I overstated the radiation levels. Sorry. The main point remains the same - the risk is minimal to non-existent.
First Officerthanks for the info.
CaptainIn the UK (don't know about the United States) the allowed radiation dose(for firefighters) is 30 milliseverts on any one incident, providing that this does not exceed 60 milliseverts in a 12 month period! For women it is 15 milliseverts on any one incident providing it does not exceed 30 milliseverts during a 12 month period (allowing for the fact that radiation can make you infertile).For civilians it is less but i think it is more for the military!
Sorry if this is too much info? (Or just boring).
I think you're going to be ok on flights!
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