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Domestic management practices
✔︎Cosmic radiation exists in the natural environment. Aircrew working at high altitudes are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation compared to those on the ground. As a result, international attention to radiation exposure in aircrew has been increasing. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends considering social and economic factors comprehensively when conducting cosmic radiation dose assessments and dose management for aircrew. It has set an annual reference dose level of 5 to 10 mSv as a management benchmark.
✔︎Taiwan is located in the mid-to-low latitudes, where aircrew are exposed to relatively lower levels of cosmic radiation. To ensure the radiation safety of aircrew, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) in 2024 invited six national domestic airlines to participate in a pilot program for monitoring and statistics of cosmic radiation doses for aircrew. The preparatory work was completed, and the trial started in 2025. It will be completed by December 2025. The aim is to collect relevant statistical data to understand the radiation dose of aircrew on duty in Taiwan, and align with international management trends.
✔︎Q&A on the Pilot Program for Aircrew Cosmic Radiation Dose Management
Q1. What is the dose management plan and timeline for aircrew in domestic airlines?
A1. Cosmic radiation naturally exists in the environment and is considered an existing exposure. Since aircrew perform their duties at flight altitudes, they are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation compared to those on the ground. The issue of cosmic radiation dose management for aircrew has gained increasing international attention. Although Taiwan is located in the mid-to-low latitudes, where flight routes are subject to relatively lower cosmic radiation exposure, it is still necessary to implement flight dose management measures to ensure the radiation safety of aircrew. The Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) has invited six domestic airlines to participate in the Pilot Program. The trial implementation will begin in 2025 and conclude in December 2025, with the goal of accumulating a full year of statistical data to align with international management trends.
Q2. What are the practical impacts of implementing the Pilot Program on airlines and aircrew?
A2. The primary objective of the Pilot Program is to conduct dose assessments and monitoring to gather statistical data on the radiation exposure of Taiwan’s aircrew during their flight duties.
For airlines, the pilot phase requires the implementation of individual dose assessments and the collection of related monitoring data for aircrew.
For aircrew, the pilot phase focuses solely on dose assessment operations and does not impose any immediate impact on their duties.
Q3. How is aircrew dose management conducted internationally?
A3. The cosmic radiation dose received by aircrew depends on flight time and route. Longer flight durations and routes at higher latitudes result in higher radiation exposure for aircrew. Airlines can reasonably reduce aircrew radiation doses by adjusting flight assignments, such as switching between European/American and Asian routes, replacing high-latitude routes with lower-latitude ones, or limiting the frequency of flights on high-dose routes.
Q4. Does cosmic radiation exposure have a half-life? Can it remain in the body?
A4. Unlike radioactive materials, cosmic radiation does not have a half-life. It exposes the body externally rather than internally, meaning it does not accumulate in the body or cause radiation contamination.
Q5. Has the flight dose assessment software been validated?
A5. The program plans to use a flight dose assessment software developed by the National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) to simplify the dose assessment process and facilitate ease of use for airlines. This software is based on the calculation results of the NTHU Flight Dose Calculator (FDC), developed by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The FDC has been validated against measurement data from the ICRU Report 84 and cross-checked with software reviewed in the European EURADOS report, ensuring reliable calculation results. By integrating the FDC with airline-provided route lists and using the great-circle route assumption (shortest distance between two airports), along with approximated flight altitude and speed derived from big data, the software can pre-assess flight doses for all listed routes. Additionally, it considers the influence of the 11-year solar cycle, allowing the creation of a comprehensive database for future dose assessments.
✔︎Taiwan is located in the mid-to-low latitudes, where aircrew are exposed to relatively lower levels of cosmic radiation. To ensure the radiation safety of aircrew, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) in 2024 invited six national domestic airlines to participate in a pilot program for monitoring and statistics of cosmic radiation doses for aircrew. The preparatory work was completed, and the trial started in 2025. It will be completed by December 2025. The aim is to collect relevant statistical data to understand the radiation dose of aircrew on duty in Taiwan, and align with international management trends.
✔︎Q&A on the Pilot Program for Aircrew Cosmic Radiation Dose Management
Q1. What is the dose management plan and timeline for aircrew in domestic airlines?
A1. Cosmic radiation naturally exists in the environment and is considered an existing exposure. Since aircrew perform their duties at flight altitudes, they are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation compared to those on the ground. The issue of cosmic radiation dose management for aircrew has gained increasing international attention. Although Taiwan is located in the mid-to-low latitudes, where flight routes are subject to relatively lower cosmic radiation exposure, it is still necessary to implement flight dose management measures to ensure the radiation safety of aircrew. The Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) has invited six domestic airlines to participate in the Pilot Program. The trial implementation will begin in 2025 and conclude in December 2025, with the goal of accumulating a full year of statistical data to align with international management trends.
Q2. What are the practical impacts of implementing the Pilot Program on airlines and aircrew?
A2. The primary objective of the Pilot Program is to conduct dose assessments and monitoring to gather statistical data on the radiation exposure of Taiwan’s aircrew during their flight duties.
For airlines, the pilot phase requires the implementation of individual dose assessments and the collection of related monitoring data for aircrew.
For aircrew, the pilot phase focuses solely on dose assessment operations and does not impose any immediate impact on their duties.
Q3. How is aircrew dose management conducted internationally?
A3. The cosmic radiation dose received by aircrew depends on flight time and route. Longer flight durations and routes at higher latitudes result in higher radiation exposure for aircrew. Airlines can reasonably reduce aircrew radiation doses by adjusting flight assignments, such as switching between European/American and Asian routes, replacing high-latitude routes with lower-latitude ones, or limiting the frequency of flights on high-dose routes.
Q4. Does cosmic radiation exposure have a half-life? Can it remain in the body?
A4. Unlike radioactive materials, cosmic radiation does not have a half-life. It exposes the body externally rather than internally, meaning it does not accumulate in the body or cause radiation contamination.
Q5. Has the flight dose assessment software been validated?
A5. The program plans to use a flight dose assessment software developed by the National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) to simplify the dose assessment process and facilitate ease of use for airlines. This software is based on the calculation results of the NTHU Flight Dose Calculator (FDC), developed by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). The FDC has been validated against measurement data from the ICRU Report 84 and cross-checked with software reviewed in the European EURADOS report, ensuring reliable calculation results. By integrating the FDC with airline-provided route lists and using the great-circle route assumption (shortest distance between two airports), along with approximated flight altitude and speed derived from big data, the software can pre-assess flight doses for all listed routes. Additionally, it considers the influence of the 11-year solar cycle, allowing the creation of a comprehensive database for future dose assessments.
更新時間：2025-03-04 14:53