Getting up in the Flight Levels

[WardHolbrook]

Go to the FAA website and do a search on altitude chamber training. You'll find this link:  http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/physiologc.pdf

 

The last I heard the cost was just $10. Ten bucks has got to be one of the biggest bargains in aviation safety. There are other courses offered around the country. Over time, a person's hypoxia symptoms can change, so going once is not enough. I've been to the chamber at UND a couple of times and I'm probably due again.

 

If I recall correctly, back when the FAA (CAA) originally implemented the O2 regulations, they wanted to set the limit at 8,000' or 10,000' for physiological reasons. A politician from one of the mountain states intervened and got it raised to 14,000'. 

 

If you're playing around in the flight levels, even the lower ones, you really need this training. The guys who say they are physically fit, don't smoke, etc and have a tolerance for high altitude flight and don't need 02 have never been to an altitude chamber. One of the common symptoms of hypoxia is a feeling of well being. It's one of my symptoms as well. There seems to be absolutely no problem until "lights out". The chamber videos are humorous .   

 

It's imperative that you have a well maintained system and smart guys will carry a pulseoximeter and a small backup or emergency bottle as well.

[WardHolbrook]

Apparently, at least according to this author, one's personal symptoms of hypoxia do not change "dramatically" over the course of one's life, but they can change. Therefore and also just as a refresher, as Ward suggested, recurrent altitude chamber training is recommended.

Sorry, I had to know.

Jim

http://books.google.com/books?id=_6hymYAgC6MC&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=do+symptom+of+hypoxia+change?&source=bl&ots=Nw7fTTHAVs&sig=_w4m7nU-CAu5O5KoVZ2vBQYOR2Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lQu_UuahH4u0kAfdhIHIDA&ved=0CDwQ6AEwB

They told us that they can and do change and that this was one of the reasons why the military and others do periodic refreshers. In my case the symptoms have changed - the first time I went through I felt every thing was just fine, I was happy, happy, happy in spite of my obviously diminishing mental capabilities. (I still have the note book I was writing in at the time.) Then BAM, lights out and the next thing I remember was the instructor and some of my chamber mates laughing at me. They had put the mask on me.and brought me back. That's probably the worst set of symptoms because of the sense of "everything's just fine" right up until things go dark. You have to experience it. Several years later, when I was back at the chamber, that symptom was diminished and I just ended up feeling real crummy and lethargic. This time it was much easier for me to recognize that things weren't right. The point is that every individual in the chamber had his own set of symptoms and you need to be able recognize how it affects you. If your answer is it doesn't affect me, well that's one of the signs of hypoxia too.     

[Joe Zuffoletto]

About 75% of my flights since May of 2000 (when I purchased my first turbo Mooney) have been in the flight levels. I love it up there... generally smooth air, excellent ground speeds, increased fuel efficiency (depending on the winds, of course), and almost no chance of colliding with another aircraft en route. I often fly from Denver to Albuquerque at FL180 or higher and that's not a very long trip.

 

Sniffing O2 through a mask has never bothered me. I just keep an eye on the flow indicator and stick my finger in the pulse oximeter every time I switch fuel tanks.

[aviatoreb]

I use an oxyarm in the teens - it is a much more comfortable lower fuss cannula solution.  I highly recommend it - and using O2 this way is really no big deal.

http://www.oxyarmaviator.com