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Radiation: Guidance for Flight Crews
From SKYbrary Wiki
| Article Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category: | Weather | 
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| Content source: | SKYbrary | 
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| Content control: | EUROCONTROL | 
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| WX | |
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| Tag(s) | Radioactive/Toxic |
Contents |
General
Flight crews should follow company approved emergency procedures and manufacturers guidance regarding the conduct of the flight, and management of aircraft systems, in the event that the aircraft encounters radioactive material either in-flight or while on the ground
Description
This article considers some aspects of airmanship, which are applicable generically to all aircraft and situations, relating to an encounter with radioactive material in flight or while on the ground. Issues relating the exposure to naturally occurring radiation at high altitudes is covered in the separate article on Cosmic Radiation.
Other than providing appropriate references and links, the article does not seek to provide guidance on decontamination or the handling of radioactive cargo.
Mention of the term "radioactive cloud" is sometimes made in references. In this context, the term "cloud" means a contaminated volume of air and is not necessarily associated with moisture. As with ash clouds (see Volcanic Ash and Pyrocumulus), there are no boundaries to the contaminated volumes, only arbitrary borderlines denoting when the contamination is deemed to be significant.
Avoidance
Pre-Flight Planning
A NOTAM should be published whenever a release into the atmosphere of radioactive materials or toxic chemicals has occurred as a result of a nuclear or chemical incident.
Meteorological offices, and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) for the affected region, may provide forecasts for the movement of the material, for example on SIGMET charts, to enable forward planning of schedules to avoid any radioactive material in flight and fall-out of radioactive material.
Operators should ensure that crews are aware of relevant NOTAMs and monitor developments. Routes should be planned taking account the notified location of dispersing radioactive material.
In-Flight Avoidance
ATC may be able to provide crews with updated information on the location of radioactive material and offer avoiding action. In certain circumstances, a diversion may be warranted.
Indications and In-Flight Effects
Unless an aircraft is fitted with specific monitoring equipment, crews are unlikely to detect the presence of radioactive material in the atmosphere. Aircraft systems may be affected by the electromagnetic pulse associated with a nuclear explosion, but that in itself would not indicate the presence of radioactive material in the vicinity of the aircraft.
The physiological effects of exposure to radioactive material in the atmosphere is likely to be long term and not affect the ability of the flight crew to safely complete the flight.
Actions in Flight
If there are reasons to believe that the aircraft may be flying through, or at risk of flying through, radioactive material, the following actions may be prudent:
- Recirculation of Cabin Air. Make sure "recirc"is in use to minimise intake of contaminated air from outside the aircraft.
- 100% Oxygen. Use of flight crew oxygen masks, with 100% Oxygen selected, will of course reduce the likelihood of ingestion of radioactive particles. However, crews should consider that the use of oxygen in such circumstance may mean that there is subsequently insufficient oxygen available in the event of a more serious threat to the safe conduct of the flight, for example as a result of fire or explosive decompression.
Decontamination
Be aware that flight through precipitation from contaminated clouds, or flight within volumes of contaminated air, is likely to lead to deposition of contaminated particles on the airframe. Such depositions may be remain after landing in areas not directly exposed to airflow effects.
Useful practical guidelines relating to decontamination have been issued by the AEA: