Oxygen

Oxygen

• • AC 61-107B Change 1 - Aircraft Operations at Altitudes Above 25,000 Feet Mean Sea Level or Mach Numbers Greater Than .75 - Excellent comprehensive document, including: Time of Useful Consciousness table, medical physiology, types of Hypoxia, physics gas laws, high altitude flight, etc.

  • FAR 91.211 Supplemental oxygen

    • Required for flight crew over 12.500' if over 30 minutes

    • Required for flight crew over 14,000'

    • Must be provided to passengers above 15,000'

    • Nasal cannula may be used up to 18.000'

    • Regulations call for a mask over 18.000'

  • Oxygen can be beneficial to your comfort, and to your cognitive ability, starting as low as 5-10 thousand feet

  • Oxygen can greatly help your night vision - consider oxygen at night above 5,000'

  • Example of a portable, 4-place, GA oxygen system for up to 18.000'

  • Flying Magazine article on Hypoxia

  • FAA: Oxygen Equipment Use in General Aviation Operations (dated, but still relevant)

    • Brochure

    • 🎥 Video

  • Pule Oximeter Usage

    • Used to monitor you blood oxygen saturation level

    • Note: Since a pulse oximeter works by shinning light through the tip (nail portion) of your finger, your pulse oximeter reading can be affected by nail polish. medical condition, and skin color. Here is a fascinating article exploring how pulse oximeters give biased results for people with darker skin, by Amy Moran-Thomas at the Boston Review. As a result, the numbers below may need some tweaking, depending on your skin color and the device being used.

    • Recommended Use of Pulse Oximetry in Aviation, by Brent Blue, M.D. May 30, 1999; Published by AVweb, key points:

      • Normal oxygen saturation at sea level: 95% - 100%

      • Normal oxygen saturation at 10,000′: 88% - 93%

      • Most people will feel better and have less fatigue if they start using supplemental oxygen when their oxygen saturation drops 5 percentage points below their normal home altitude saturation.

      • To avoid physical and cognitive impairment, always use supplemental oxygen in flight whenever your oxygen saturation drops 10 percentage points below normal for your home altitude.

      • My own rough rule-of-thumb is to use oxygen if/as needed to maintain a pulse oximeter reading in the 90's.

      • Example: If your normal oxygen saturation is 97%, then regardless of aircraft altitude, you would typically benefit from using supplemental oxygen when the pulse oximeter reads 92% or below, and you should definitely use supplemental oxygen when the pulse oximeter reads 87% or below.

  • Hands-on Oxygen Training "Module" - Optional

    • To participate in this training, you will need to let me know days, or even weeks, ahead of time so that I can make sure to have everything available and ready to go for the day of your in-flight training. And so that you have time to purchase, and receive, your items, below.

    • Note that to participate in this optional training module, you will need to purchase your own compatible cannula (~$35) ahead of time - you will be able to keep your cannula for your future use. See me before purchase for details.

    • While not required, I recommend that you also purchase your own pulse oximeter. Again, see me for details before purchase.

    • I have a portable oxygen system, as well as connectors to fit a variety of built-in oxygen systems, and can provide hands-on in-flight oxygen system training.

    • Training will include in-flight use of oxygen:

      • Please Note: If we use my portable oxygen system for training, there will be an additional charge of approximately $20-$40 (depending on how much is used) to cover my cost of getting the oxygen tank refilled

      • As time, weather, aircraft, and other factors allow, your flight may include flight into the "oxygen levels" (above 12,500') if so desired

      • System components and how everything connects

      • Securing the portable tank in the aircraft (Aerox instructions for their portable systems with carrier bag)

      • Checking tank pressure and system connections

      • Estimating oxygen available

      • How to fit and wear your cannula (or mask)

      • How to connect to your cannula (or mask) and operate the main valve

      • How to adjust and monitor your oxygen flow rate with needle valve and flowmeter

      • How to monitor your O2 level using a pulse oximeter