Health issues
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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Health issues
Does anyone have any information about longhaul flights with regards to health? I have read that the effects of radiation on the occupants in the new generation of high flying jets is rather hazardous. Another issue is the quality of the air in these aircraft, as the air is circulated for a much longer time and only a small amount of new air is added (to reduce engine bleed air and increase fuel economy).
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Hi Tape,
There was a great thread on the 'Wannabes' forum about the radiation issue, if you go there and run a search you'll find quite a lot of information about it. (Basically though it was worked out it was no higher risk then using a mobile phone, microwave, computer or television), although the risks were considerably higher above FL370.
On the issue of Air, a long haul pilot may wish to confim this, but from my understanding from my ATPL topics, the air is not circulated like that and there is always new/clean air entering the cabin and old air is expelled from the aircraft continually.
Although you didn't bring it up, the issue of DVT and other long haul related illnesses is also widely discussed and can be prevented by excerising, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and visiting your doctor before travel.
I have done a lot of long haul flying (although I'm only young!) and have never encountered any hazards, also as a GA pilot I fly in small aircraft for long periods of time and have also not encountered any hazards there.
Talking to friends who are FA's with Qantas, they tell me the most common problem on a long haul flight is dehydration, which can of course be prevented through drinking plently of water aboard the aircraft.
The risks are really minimal if you take the correct precautions, listen to the crew and airlines advise and see a doctor if you are a high risk pax before travel.
Further information on long haul travel can be found on any major airlines website.
Cheers
stormy
There was a great thread on the 'Wannabes' forum about the radiation issue, if you go there and run a search you'll find quite a lot of information about it. (Basically though it was worked out it was no higher risk then using a mobile phone, microwave, computer or television), although the risks were considerably higher above FL370.
On the issue of Air, a long haul pilot may wish to confim this, but from my understanding from my ATPL topics, the air is not circulated like that and there is always new/clean air entering the cabin and old air is expelled from the aircraft continually.
Although you didn't bring it up, the issue of DVT and other long haul related illnesses is also widely discussed and can be prevented by excerising, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and visiting your doctor before travel.
I have done a lot of long haul flying (although I'm only young!) and have never encountered any hazards, also as a GA pilot I fly in small aircraft for long periods of time and have also not encountered any hazards there.
Talking to friends who are FA's with Qantas, they tell me the most common problem on a long haul flight is dehydration, which can of course be prevented through drinking plently of water aboard the aircraft.
The risks are really minimal if you take the correct precautions, listen to the crew and airlines advise and see a doctor if you are a high risk pax before travel.
Further information on long haul travel can be found on any major airlines website.
Cheers
stormy
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With regard to the radiation hazard:
In a group of normal people, 250 out of 1000 will develop cancer at some stage in their life.
If you then take a group of longhaul pilots, 251 out of 1000 will develop cancer.
This according to QF doctors.............
In a group of normal people, 250 out of 1000 will develop cancer at some stage in their life.
If you then take a group of longhaul pilots, 251 out of 1000 will develop cancer.
This according to QF doctors.............
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Another issue, from what I have been told is that with prolonged exposure to high altitude and the subsequent effects of radiation, men will have an increased likelihood of their offspring being girls rather than boys. There is a research paper on this I believe.
