Pilots could be forced to wear visors due to health scare
Pilots could be made to wear regulation sunglasses or visors after research showed their high exposure to UV light puts them at risk of skin cancer.
The study, carried out by Public Health England, the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) and the Civil Aviation Authority, found that during a two-hour flight from Gatwick to Malaga, pilots were being exposed to 50 times more blue light than people on the ground.
The rate for skin cancer among pilots is double that for other people, reports the Observer, and this new research shows this could be due to the amount of low-level ultraviolet light able to get in through plane windscreens.
The results have prompted action from Balpa, which is now looking into options to help fix the problem quickly.
General secretary Jim McAuslan told The Observer: "These could be standard issue sunglasses with protection from UV-A light and, in the long-term, improvements to the design of cockpit windscreens.
"We will work with airlines and regulators to further investigate the potential dangers of increased exposure to sunlight in the cockpit and agree simple and practical measures to protect pilots."
Diane
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