Monitoring Radiation Exposure of Saudi Aramco Pilots

Abstract A 1 y study to monitor exposure to cosmic radiation of pilots and aircrew in Saudi Aramco flights has been conducted. In many countries, flight attendants, pilots, and other aircrew are considered to be radiation workers. Five pilots participated in the study, and two methods were used for measuring or estimating the radiation doses received by pilots or aircrew during air flights: the computer program CARI-7 and thermoluminescent dosimeters. It has been concluded that although pilots and aircrew are occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation, they do not receive enough radiation to be included in the company radiation dosimetry program. Although it is not possible, in general, for pilots and aircrew to reach the occupational dose limit, they nonetheless should be monitored (using a computer simulation code) to be in line with international practices. In the case of pregnant aircrew, it is particularly important to monitor their radiation doses, because it is possible for them to reach their radiation dose limits.