The summer flying season is upon us and so are strong sunrays. It’s time to think about how to best protect yourself from contracting skin cancer and other damage that can result from the UV beams that bear down on you inside and outside the cockpit. You may think you are inside and protected while in the cockpit, but your arms, face and head can be exposed to the damaging sunrays for hours while flying.
Some studies indicate that airline pilots have elevated incidences of melanoma — the most serious type of skin cancer. A study done by Iceland Air in the 1990s determined that airline pilots have a 25 percent higher probability of contracting melanoma compared with the general population of Iceland. The study did not conclude the cause of the increased rate of skin cancer, but suggested that the exposure to sunlight at higher altitude could be the culprit. It has also been suggested that the irregular sleep patterns airline pilots experience and other causes contribute to the higher rates of skin cancer.
