Oxygen & Aeromedical Factors

Knowing about the use of oxygen when flying goes beyond the pre-flight planning Area of Operations section during your Private Pilot check ride. Unless you stick to flying in the US midwest then you will need to use supplemental oxygen regularly or occasionally.

The Examiner may ask when oxygen is required?  Did you know pilots may need oxygen at a lower altitude than required by FAA regulations?  You can find out if you're one of those pilots by checking your oxygen saturation level in-flight with an oximeter.  Mountain High's EDS Pulse Demand delivers oxygen 2,500' lower than is required by the FAA.  What's your saturation level?

Item 1.a: Hypoxia.

Most of us can quickly recite the symptoms of Hypoxia when asked for them in a checkride (blue fingernails, tingling sensations, euphoria), but have you given thought as to how challenging this can be to self-identify? Additionally, other causal factors can affect your susceptibility to hypoxia including physical fitness, stress, illness, etc (IMSAFE checklist).

FAR 91.211

While 91.211 stipulates that any flight duration in excess of 30 minutes above 12,500 feet requires the use of supplemental oxygen (or any duration above 14,000 feet) that may not be sufficient to mitigate the risks associated with hypoxia for your situation.

Technology

Fortunately, technology is advancing rapidly with wearable pulse oximetery devices (Oxi-Go, Garmin, Apple, etc.) that are capable of reading your blood oxygen saturation levels. The Mayo Clinic considers values below 90 low with regards to oxygen saturation. Consider taking advantage of the available technology to mitigate the insidious risks of hypoxia.

Kalitta 66

You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you can’t maintain heading, airspeed, or control, but everything is A-OK like the crew of Kalitta 66 did (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IqWal_EmBg)

Banner Photo Credit Sophie Mahie

Plexus Canopy Cleaner

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Icom IC–A 25

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  Orion Kingman is a professional pilot, flight instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner. He holds an undergraduate degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and is currently pursuing a Master's from ASU in Emergency management and homeland security. Over the past 22 years of flying Orion has logged in excess of 8,500 hours, in aircraft ranging from a 1-26 through Boeing 767's. Within those hours Orion won the 2006 Region 12 Championship in Open Class, and has organized and mentored multiple cross country camps.