Oxygen Questions

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 10:47 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Industrial oxygen often has higher purity requirements than aviator’s or medical oxygen, with aviator’s breathing oxygen (ABO) specifically requiring at least 99.5% purity.
Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) can increase blood oxygen levels at lower altitudes but have aviation limitations including high power draw, heat generation, and a decrease in delivered oxygen purity with increasing altitude.
When cleared for an RNAV approach and within the Terminal Arrival Area (TAA), pilots may descend to the TAA's minimum altitude (which is the MSA), a rule that differs from ILS approaches where MSA is typically for emergency use.

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In June’s article, “Restoring Performance,” Mike Hart writes, “There is no practical difference between aviator’s breathing oxygen and oxygen used for medicine or welding.” While he does explain the difference now in regards to medical oxygen as compared to the 1950s, I’ve read that industrial oxygen, should not be used due to the impurities in it. Is industrial oxygen purer now than before?

As always, I enjoy reading Aviation Safety. Keep those articles coming!