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Study: In-flight UVA Radiation a Big Risk for Pilots

For roughly every hour of flight time at 30,000 feet, pilots are exposed to the same amount of ultraviolet A (long-wave) radiation as that from a 20-minute session in a tanning bed, according to a recent research letter published by the American Medical Association. Since UVA radiation can cause DNA damage in cells and lead to skin cancer, the study authors “strongly recommend the use of sunscreens and periodic skin checks for pilots and cabin crew.” Pilots are exposed to such high levels because aircraft windshields, which are typically made of polycarbonate plastic or multilayer composite glass, do not completely block UVA radiation, the report notes. Worse, the report authors believe the levels could be even higher when pilots are flying over cloud layers and snow fields, since these reflect ultraviolet radiation. To gather the study data, researchers measured the amount of UV radiation in the cockpit of a Daher-Socata TBM850 at ground level and various heights during several flights and then compared them with measurements taken in tanning beds. The research flights were conducted in San Jose, Calif., and Las Vegas around midday in April.