What is the personnel clearance distance for the Milsatcom radiation hazard?

• A. 20ft Personnel, 50ft Fuel
• B. 15ft Personnel, 50ft Fuel
• C. 25ft Personnel, 60ft Fuel
• D. 10ft Personnel, 40ft Fuel

Answer: (A)

When assessing Milsatcom radiation hazards, you determine safety distances from the antenna that keep RF exposure below permitted limits for personnel and also protect fuel areas from heat or ignition risks. The standard combination used for this setup is a 20 ft clearance for personnel and a 50 ft clearance for fuel. This reflects how RF exposure scales with power, frequency, and antenna gain: you need enough distance so that the energy reaching a person stays within safe levels, and you need a larger buffer around fuel to account for heat and ignition concerns in case of unusual RF conditions or nearby equipment. The other options propose smaller distances that would not meet those safety thresholds, either for people or for fuel areas, which is why they aren’t the proper hazard distances. In practice, you’d verify these values against the installation’s RF hazard zone table to ensure compliance.