Measurements of Cosmic Radiation on Board Lufthansa Aircraft on the Major Intercontinental Flight Routes

Abstract

Radiation measurements have been performed on board passenger aircraft of Lufthansa German Airlines to get relevant and consistent information about radiation exposure of aircrews. The flights originated from Frankfurt with the destinations Vancouver, Tokyo, Sydney, Buenos Aires and Mexico City. The measurements were carried out on altitudes up to 41,000 ft (12.5 km) as a function of latitude and longitude, using established dosemeters for environmental control as well as a new microdosimetric device. At the most frequently used flight levels between 33,000 and 39,000 ft (10-11.7 km), area dose equivalent rates were conservatively estimated to be as high as 5-8 µSv.h-1, at geomagnetic latitudes around N50 o. Corresponding area dose equivalents reach 3-5 mSv.y-1 with the assumption of 600 flight hours annually and the quality factor function according to ICRP 60.