You never thought about oxygen during your training until after your advanced ratings years later when you finally started flying at altitudes requiring oxygen.
How To Breathe Easy
You never thought about oxygen during your training until after your advanced ratings years later when you finally started flying at altitudes requiring oxygen. At first you probably just borrowed a portable bottle. Perhaps later you flew a plane with a built-in system. But you never liked that cannula stuck up your nose, so you bought a pressurized twin Cessna 421 with its requisite built-in oxygen system. With pressurization, you again no longer think about oxygen.But…
Key Takeaways:
- Oxygen systems are vital for pilot and passenger safety at altitude, often neglected even in pressurized aircraft, and pilots should be aware of FAA regulations for use (e.g., above 12,500 ft) and consider using pulse oximeters for personal monitoring.
- All components of an oxygen system (bottles, regulators, tubing, masks, flow meters) require periodic maintenance, including hydrostatic testing for bottles (typically every 5 years), regular inspections, and overhauls at specified intervals.
- Though "oxygen is oxygen," aviator's breathing oxygen is specified for certificated aircraft due to liability, and it is crucial to avoid any oil or grease contamination with oxygen system components to prevent explosive reactions.
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