Oxygen in a Mooney

[Top Heavy]

Do you need to use a "flow meter" with an oxymiser cannula?

[DonMuncy]

You don't have to use a flow meter, but it makes it a lot easier. To be sure you are getting enough, you should have an oximeter, but a flow meter will get you close. Otherwise you might have a tendency to turn the flow higher, to be sure you  have enough.

On mine, when I get to altitude, I adjust the flow meter (as it is marked), then after a few minutes, adjust up or down with the oximeter reading.

[FlyDave]

Another thing about cannula use is if you're a little congested (not severe congestion as with a cold or bad allergies - this should be a no-fly situation for you) you can use a little bit of Afrin an hour before the flight to decongest your nose/sinuses. That will make breathing through your nose more effective.

Be sure to try Afrin on the ground on a day you're not flying to make sure it doesn't give you a headache or other unpleasant side effect.

[Houman]

I also have an portable emergency oxygen tank with 2 masks that I bought at Aircraft Spruce, it's very simple to operate, put the mask on, pull the pin and you get maximum oxygene to get you back in shape and go down where you don't need it. The emergency system lasts about 20 minutes ( more than enough time to get down in a controlled manner ) and it is kind of idiot proof, since there is no adjusting it, just pull the pin... It's worth the 300$ to save one's life...

[AndyFromCB]

Do you need to use a "flow meter" with an oxymiser cannula?

 

Yes,

 

Otherwise it defeats the its purpose of conserving oxygen. The built-in regulator has a pretty high flow, made for masks. Without a flowmeter and valve there is really no way to limit the amount of oxygen flowing.

[Marauder]

Ward give it up...that's why there were so many hypoxia induced accidents in the last few yrs. like I said I'm on the stupid side carrying 2 oximeters, having entra cannulas and extra masks ready in one of the ports I don't use...plus actually checking my O2 saturation approx every 5 minutes at the most, I never let it go below 95%.

You have a point Dan. In addition to the hypoxia accidents, I'm willing to bet oxygen deprivation is a leading cause of Mooney owners selling their Mooneys and buying a Beechcraft.

[RobertGary1]

So does it make me dumb taking my aircraft to FL220? Because that's what you said. I don't think it's dumb with a properly functioning oxygen system.

 

Last month I spent a fair amount of time at 220 in a C-206 with just a cannula. I guess its personal experience but I didn't feel any signs of hypoxia afterwards. When I have been hypoxic I've had headaches etc afterwards. My sats stayed right where they usually are. I usually check my sats every 15 minutes above 15,000.

 

In speaking with the AirOx folks they tell me that the O2 standards are based on a 70 year old male smoker. Honestly if sat meters were standard when they wrote the FARs I think they'd have been written differently.

 

-Robert