Doesn't FedEx track radiation exposure for Polar operations?

 

Fedex doesn't fly polar.

 

Once upon a time, FedEx pilots used to wear dosimeters. Dumped the used one in a bin in the ol' locker room, and hung a new one on our lanyard. Never heard any feedback about what was indicated on those--good, bad, or ugly--maybe they were just tossed out with the trash? Anyway, they went away. And we don't do that anymore. But we're still losing folks to non-smoking cancers. Knowing my "Rems absorbed last month" would be a lot more useful number than knowing how much gas we saved last quarter.

Reminds me of the time sitting on nuclear alert when we borrowed a Geiger counter and ran it over the surface of the Short Range Attack Missiles loaded in the BUFF's bomb bay. Those were rumored to be "leaky" through their heat shields, and the counter started chirping at a high PRF. Suspicions confirmed. So did we change any procedures as a result? Nope, couldn't change a thing--still had to preflight those jewels every tour. But at least now we KNEW it was a bad thing to hang around in the bomb bay.

 

Yes, this. It's well documented.

Cosmic/solar radiation, not so much. I actually did the math on exposure to natural radiation at altitude (I have previous professional expertise in that) and concluded that a pilot who does a lot of long haul flying will be subject to a barely detectable but real increase in lifetime cancer risk. Somewhat less for domestic pilots who spend more of their duty time between legs on the ground and may not fly as high. Altitude makes a difference...the air above you attenuates some radiation.

That said, if there's a big solar flare you can get months or even years worth of radiation in one flight. Personally, I would be inclined to adjust my schedule to avoid a big flare.

 

Thanks for that gouge, Rick.

 

When we had dosimeters you could look up your radiation exposure on VIPs. Mine were always minuscule. The dosimeters were for the exemption to carry cargo over the t.i. Limit, not cosmic radiation. OSHA said they were unnecessary and no longer required, I believe because all our readings were so low, so the company got rid of them.

 

For what it's worth, my brother-in-law is a Nuclear Engineer. Many years ago I asked him how concerned I should be about the Transportation Index (TI) units we were exposed to?

His opinion ... "VERY, VERY small amount of radiation exposure. His words, "You get that much radiation walking around in the sunshine."

 

I saw a movie about cosmic radiation. The invisible girl was hot.

 

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