UNION PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE UNION PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE WEATHER AND AVIATIONWEATHER AND AVIATION

Capt. Joyce MayCapt. Joyce May

Allied Pilots AssociationAllied Pilots Association

Most jet air crewmembers receive between Most jet air crewmembers receive between 1.7 and 5 mSv./year additional radiation 1.7 and 5 mSv./year additional radiation from in-flight cosmic sources.from in-flight cosmic sources.

As an occupational work group, aircrew are As an occupational work group, aircrew are among the most highly exposed “radiation among the most highly exposed “radiation workers” (both in number of exposed, and workers” (both in number of exposed, and individual doses).individual doses).

Most employee groups in the US who are Most employee groups in the US who are occupationally exposed to radiation are occupationally exposed to radiation are

* informed* informed

* trained * trained

* and their exposures monitored under * and their exposures monitored under Occupational Safety and Health Administration Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) legislation.(OSHA) legislation.

European Air Crewmembers, as European Air Crewmembers, as of May 2000, also now are of May 2000, also now are regulated for their radiation regulated for their radiation exposure.exposure.

** AIR CREWMEMBERS IN THE USA RECEIVE NO REGULATORY PROTECTION FROM THEIR RADIATION EXPOSURE **

Occupational Safety and Health Act was Occupational Safety and Health Act was

enacted in 1971.enacted in 1971. Main objective: Oversee employee Main objective: Oversee employee

protection in the workplace from protection in the workplace from occupational health hazards. occupational health hazards.

FAA took jurisdiction in 1975 from FAA took jurisdiction in 1975 from OSHA to cover aircrew safety and health OSHA to cover aircrew safety and health matters.matters.

The FAA, in fact, never enacted any The FAA, in fact, never enacted any

OSHA type environmental exposure laws OSHA type environmental exposure laws for aircrew.for aircrew.

This, despite 1987 Presidential Document This, despite 1987 Presidential Document Radiation Radiation Protection Guidance to Federal Agencies for Protection Guidance to Federal Agencies for Occupational ExposureOccupational Exposure

and in a 1990 Advisory Circular, the FAA and in a 1990 Advisory Circular, the FAA

acknowledged that aircrew are indeed occupationally acknowledged that aircrew are indeed occupationally exposed to radiation. exposed to radiation.

Another 1994 FAA AC recommended (not Another 1994 FAA AC recommended (not mandated) that aircrew be given training on mandated) that aircrew be given training on their radiation exposure.their radiation exposure.

AC was distributed to airline management—AC was distributed to airline management—aircrew didn’t see it. aircrew didn’t see it.

AC was ignored by most airlines. (AA was AC was ignored by most airlines. (AA was probably the only exception among US major probably the only exception among US major air carriers who published a training booklet.) air carriers who published a training booklet.)

Due to FAA failure to enact laws that Due to FAA failure to enact laws that OSHA and the 1987 Presidential OSHA and the 1987 Presidential Document have dictated, aircrew remain Document have dictated, aircrew remain the only work group in the US not the only work group in the US not required to be informed, trained, or in any required to be informed, trained, or in any way protected from their occupational way protected from their occupational radiation exposure.radiation exposure.

* With no requirements for air * With no requirements for air crewmembers to even be informed crewmembers to even be informed that they are radiation workers, this that they are radiation workers, this doesn’t even allow them to try to doesn’t even allow them to try to manage exposure on their own.manage exposure on their own.

There are more than 50,000 female jet There are more than 50,000 female jet air crewmembers in the US (pilots and air crewmembers in the US (pilots and flight attendants).flight attendants).

Majority are of childbearing age.Majority are of childbearing age.

MOST US AIRLINE POLICIES PERMIT MOST US AIRLINE POLICIES PERMIT AIRCREW TO FLY THROUGH THEIR 6AIRCREW TO FLY THROUGH THEIR 6THTH MONTH OF PREGNANCY.MONTH OF PREGNANCY.

MOST JET AIRCREW WOULD EXCEED THE MOST JET AIRCREW WOULD EXCEED THE MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED RADIATION MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED RADIATION DOSE TO THE FETUS WITHIN 2 TO 3 DOSE TO THE FETUS WITHIN 2 TO 3 MONTHS OF NORMAL SCHEDULE FLYING.MONTHS OF NORMAL SCHEDULE FLYING.

OVEREXPOSURE WOULD OCCUR IN EVEN LESS OVEREXPOSURE WOULD OCCUR IN EVEN LESS TIME IF FLIGHT OCCURS DURING A “SOLAR TIME IF FLIGHT OCCURS DURING A “SOLAR EVENT”—POSSIBLY EVEN IN A SINGLE FLIGHT.EVENT”—POSSIBLY EVEN IN A SINGLE FLIGHT.

THE RESULT: FETUSES OF US THE RESULT: FETUSES OF US PREGNANT AIR CREWMEMBERS ARE PREGNANT AIR CREWMEMBERS ARE ROUTINELY BEING OVEREXPOSURED ROUTINELY BEING OVEREXPOSURED TO RADIATION.TO RADIATION.

Fetal exposure limit based on ICRP Fetal exposure limit based on ICRP and NCRP limits of no more than:and NCRP limits of no more than: 1 mSv. over entire pregnancy1 mSv. over entire pregnancy 0.5 mSv. in any single month0.5 mSv. in any single month

Not for women only! (Is not just a Not for women only! (Is not just a pregnancy issue.)pregnancy issue.)

All aircrew face the prospect of higher rates All aircrew face the prospect of higher rates of various degenerative diseases from a of various degenerative diseases from a career of radiation exposure--most notably career of radiation exposure--most notably cancer.cancer.

Several studies show higher rate of malignant Several studies show higher rate of malignant melanoma—as much as 3 to 4 times higher.melanoma—as much as 3 to 4 times higher.

Other studies showing higher rates of other Other studies showing higher rates of other cancers as well, such as acute myeloid cancers as well, such as acute myeloid leukemia and pancreas.leukemia and pancreas.

CALCULATIONS OF ESTIMATED FATAL CANCERS

Based on CAMI statistical estimates:Based on CAMI statistical estimates: At AA alone, of the approximately 10,000 pilots At AA alone, of the approximately 10,000 pilots

presently on the flying schedule, by the time of presently on the flying schedule, by the time of normal retirement age, 35 of them would already normal retirement age, 35 of them would already have died from cancer after 30 years of flying a have died from cancer after 30 years of flying a typical AA flight schedule, attributed to their in-typical AA flight schedule, attributed to their in-flight radiation exposure.*flight radiation exposure.*

For flight attendants who often fly more hours, For flight attendants who often fly more hours, over more years, their deaths from cancer would over more years, their deaths from cancer would be even higher.be even higher.

It is clear that the issue of aircrew radiation exposure has not been properly addressed in the USA.

Thanks to help from the scientific community, Thanks to help from the scientific community,

information did reach aircrews. Unions have information did reach aircrews. Unions have been working to get aircrews better informed.been working to get aircrews better informed.

This still means, though, that aircrew and This still means, though, that aircrew and airlines must manage this issue on their own.airlines must manage this issue on their own.

Serious obstacles remain, Serious obstacles remain, particularlyparticularly

Current dire financial situation of airlines:Current dire financial situation of airlines: Airlines are even less inclined now to address Airlines are even less inclined now to address

radiation exposure concerns.radiation exposure concerns.

Aircrew themselves, after serious pay cuts and Aircrew themselves, after serious pay cuts and many other give-backs, are more focused on many other give-backs, are more focused on immediate plight of financial survival.immediate plight of financial survival.

Unions then also have less funds with which to Unions then also have less funds with which to fight these issues, and fewer volunteers to fight fight these issues, and fewer volunteers to fight them.them.

Aircrew DO care about this issue:Aircrew DO care about this issue:

In 2000, Flight Attendant unions signed an In 2000, Flight Attendant unions signed an agreement with Congress to attempt to get agreement with Congress to attempt to get exposure protection under OSHA.exposure protection under OSHA.

A 2004 ALPA survey of flight crews showed A 2004 ALPA survey of flight crews showed that 88% want mandated formal training on that 88% want mandated formal training on their radiation exposure.their radiation exposure.

Union focus is now on securing Union focus is now on securing legislative protectionlegislative protection

This will force government and airlines into This will force government and airlines into proper protective measures for aircrews.proper protective measures for aircrews.

All airlines will be required to act, so all will All airlines will be required to act, so all will share in the cost.share in the cost.

Will allow for more coordinated approach for Will allow for more coordinated approach for all airlines and supporting industries to all airlines and supporting industries to properly address exposure issues. properly address exposure issues.

Legislation will also encourage the development Legislation will also encourage the development of better ways to manage this issue to include:of better ways to manage this issue to include:

Better, more accurate methods of radiation Better, more accurate methods of radiation measurement.measurement.

Mobilize ATC to deal with lower flying Mobilize ATC to deal with lower flying aircraft, particularly during solar events.aircraft, particularly during solar events.

Coordinated response program to alter flights Coordinated response program to alter flights as needed during particularly strong solar as needed during particularly strong solar events (CAMI’s Solar Alert Program).events (CAMI’s Solar Alert Program).

More epidemiological studies on aircrew More epidemiological studies on aircrew health effects.health effects.

Current recommended exposure limits too Current recommended exposure limits too high?—EU limit of 6 mSv/yr. more reasonable high?—EU limit of 6 mSv/yr. more reasonable for cosmic radiation.for cosmic radiation.

Improved airline maternity policies.Improved airline maternity policies.

Future aircraft designed to be Future aircraft designed to be efficient at the lower altitudes efficient at the lower altitudes instead of the trend to build them to instead of the trend to build them to fly ever higher!fly ever higher!

Without legislation to force action, protection Without legislation to force action, protection for aircrews will be inconsistent, with no for aircrews will be inconsistent, with no guarantee that the measures an individual guarantee that the measures an individual airline chooses are even effective—if any airline chooses are even effective—if any measures are taken at all.measures are taken at all.

Third World-like method of doing Third World-like method of doing business where the cost of the operation is business where the cost of the operation is at the expense of the health of the at the expense of the health of the employees.employees.

Unions don’t make laws, but rather help Unions don’t make laws, but rather help insure that laws and policies are in place to insure that laws and policies are in place to look out for the interests of its’ members.look out for the interests of its’ members.

Airlines and the average air crewmember Airlines and the average air crewmember don’t understand this issue well enough to don’t understand this issue well enough to manage it on their own!manage it on their own!

The scientific community and supporting

industries will be key in helping the issue of aircrew in-flight radiation exposure get the attention and action that is so critically needed!