Hi all,
I hope you don't mind me adding by tuppence-worth to this discussion.
I look at it like this. The pressure changes experienced in flying are the same as would be experienced during a brief period on the surface following an infinitely long stauration dive at about 10 feet and a subsequent return to that depth. This is because civilian aircraft cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of about 6-8,000 feet or 0.7 bar, I believe, giving approximately the same pressure drop.
Micronuclei are certain to form (particularly in the slower tissues) during the ascent, particularly in fast jets but, of course, the "victim" returns to his saturation depth after his flight. It therefore occurs to me that the longer the flight the more micro-nuclei form but on the other hand after an extended period all the bodies tissues will, of course, equalise with cabin pressure to a new, lower state of saturation.
Not forgetting the problems of dehydration, fatigue, and hypoglycaemia etc. this suggests to me that long-haul flights should be safer than short flights in an unpressurised light aircraft, the most hazardous flights being middle distance.
I suspect G forces must also play their part.
For what its worth diving following a flight could be looked upon as in-water recompression but I certainly think one would be very, very wise to delay one's diving after flying. The question is for how long?
On the other hand, I have often wondered whether Jet-lag was a form of cerbral DCI?
I am not pretending I know the answers here, only asking once again.
Paul