Neil Shaw

Research from the Surrey Space Centre warns that extreme solar storms can sharply increase radiation at commercial flight altitudes and interfere with aircraft electronics. A November 2025 storm raised radiation levels to nearly ten times normal conditions, while historical evidence suggests the strongest storms could expose passengers to a year’s usual flight-related cosmic radiation. The greatest risks are on polar routes, though severe storms can affect flights farther south, including over the UK. Researchers propose an aviation-specific radiation scale, stronger monitoring, and rerouting or grounding flights during extreme events.