Oxygen

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Oxygen Systems
Knowledge is more important now than ever in using oxygen while flying in General Aviation. New high performance unpressurized aircraft are allowing more pilots to fly in the 10,000-18,000ft altitude range. Most pilots have not received proper training in the physiological effects of flying at those altitudes or the advantages and disadvantages of different oxygen systems available. Recreational pilots are most at risk for having issues using oxygen systems due to the lack of structured training.
Recreational pilots are flying most of the high performance unpressurized aircraft using the planes as personal transportation. These pilots are less likely to be as proficient in operating the aircraft and being aware of all the dangers that come with aviation. The only training they probably received in physiology would be during their initial flight training, which can be fairly brief. They won’t understand the danger that hypoxia poses at these new altitudes.
Hypoxia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient to impair functions of the brain and other organs. (FAA, 2013) Hypoxia from exposure is due entirely to the reduced barometric pressures encountered at higher altitudes. The concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere does not change as altitude increases; rather it stays constant at about 21%. Because of the decrease in barometric pressure, however, there is less atmosphere (air) at higher altitudes, which results in less available oxygen. (SKYbrary, 2014)
Hypoxia can come on rapidly or it can come on slowly and not very noticeable. Rapid onset of hypoxia will generally occur at high altitudes where pressurized aircraft fly. At the higher altitudes rapid onset would occur during a depressurization event ...

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...m that has been used in the military for a long time but is very new to General Aviation. Zodiac Aerospace has created an On-board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) that can be used up to 25,000ft. OBOGS are basically oxygen concentrators. They will reduce the amount of nitrogen in the air, which will allow air supplied to the pilot to have a higher oxygen percentage. OBOGS have the advantage of supplying an unlimited amount of oxygen during a flight. They are not limited by the size of a container since they use ambient air. There is also no need for the system to be supplied by an outside source of ABO in either a gaseous of liquid state. OBOGS will also eliminate the dangers of having a high pressure oxygen system and removes the required maintenance of inspecting oxygen cylinders over time. The big disadvantage of OBOGS is the initial cost to install the system.

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