Cosmic radiation exposure survey of an Air Force Transport Squadron

A combination of in-flight measurements and calculations from the predictive code for aircrew radiation exposure (PCAire) was used to assess the cosmic radiation conditions for a Transport Squadron in the Canadian Air Force. The equipment suite from the Royal Military College of Canada, including a TEPC and bubble detectors, were flown over a sampling of air routes while the survey of the Squadron members covered a 2½ year period over the recent solar minimum and, thus, maximum radiation conditions. Various comparisons were made between the measurements and calculations to confirm the results of this work. For this period, more than half received more than the general public limit of 1 mSv per year and most received 0.5 or 2.5 mSv, with some receiving almost 4 mSv. This wide variation reflected the varied nature of their deployments.

► Aircrew of a Transport Squadron were surveyed for cosmic radiation exposure.
► A semi-empirical code, PCAire, was used for the first time to conduct this survey.
► Simultaneous in-flight measurements were undertaken on many flights.
► The measurements and survey results were consistent throughout the study.
► The study was conducted during a cosmic radiation peak in the solar cycle.