# Aviation risks from solar storms and space weather

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/aviation-risks-from-solar-storms-and-space-weather
> Updated: 2026-08-16T11:00:01.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Research from the Surrey Space Centre indicates that extreme space weather and solar storms pose significant risks to aviation safety. The studies highlight two primary concerns: increased radiation exposure and electronic malfunctions.

At typical flight altitudes of 8–14 km, radiation levels can surge during solar events. For example, a major solar storm in November 2025 caused radiation levels to rise to nearly ten times normal conditions. Historical data suggests that extreme events, such as the 1956 solar storm, could expose passengers to a year’s worth of cosmic radiation.

Additionally, high-energy particles can cause ‘Single Event Upsets’ (SEUs), which are errors in aircraft electronics that can disrupt critical systems. While these errors are rare under normal conditions, extreme solar activity could increase their frequency from a few per hour to thousands per hour. Such disruptions may increase pilot workload and operational challenges, particularly on polar flight routes.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-16: Solar storms pose radiation and electronic risks to aviation

Surrey Space Centre researchers warn that extreme solar storms can cause massive radiation spikes and thousands of electronic errors per hour in commercial aircraft at cruising altitudes.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/solar-storms-pose-radiation-and-electronic-risks-to-aviation

### 2026-08-14: Surrey Space Centre study warns of aviation risks from space weather

A Surrey Space Centre study warns that solar storms can cause dangerous radiation surges and electronic failures in aircraft, potentially grounding flights and disrupting critical onboard systems.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/surrey-space-centre-study-warns-of-aviation-risks-from-space-weather

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Cite as: Aviation risks from solar storms and space weather. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/aviation-risks-from-solar-storms-and-space-weather