Risk assessment of flying through a zone with increased radioactive radiation

Abstract

This research deals with the assessment of the risk to which air traffic is exposed in zones of increased level of radioactive radiation. Natural disasters and war conflicts, which take place around nuclear power plants and the radioactive area (Chernobyl), create fear that large amounts of radioactive material may be released into the atmosphere. The paper analyzed the effects of: the efficiency of the HEPA filter in relation to the size of the radioactive dust particles, radioactivity on the aircraft instrumentation, radioactivity on the engine and the contribution of the engine in the spread of radioactivity to the crew in the aircraft. An assessment of the risk of exposure to radioactive radiation in the aircraft was put in perspective, depending on the type of aircraft and the dose of radiation.