Passenger Oxygen on Commercial Airliners

[ArcticKat]

Hi guys, I post this here because I suspect those who would be best to answer my question would be those responsible for maintenance.

I was chatting with someone on another board about his relative who had a medical condition. He told me that the flight crew dropped one and only one of the emergency oxygen masks for him to use during the flight.

I was going to call BS on him because my understanding is that these emergency oxygen masks are actually connected to a mixture of chemicals which initiate a chemical reaction that produces oxygen for only about 10 - 15 minutes, this is the reason that one has to tug on the mask before applying it.

When my father who has COPD flew Air Canada, they had to ship a tank of oxygen out for him to use on the plane.

So, what do you think? Do I call BS on this guy or is there actually some sort of configuration that makes his statement possible?

[Deerinheadlights]

Oxygen Gens. are emergancy decent (cabin decompression)only. They do carry small breathing oxy tanks for medical emerg.If the passenger boards a/c with a med condition the requires oxygen they bring more with passenger if they let them on at all.

Ox. Gens only give at most 15 minutes of oxygen.

[ArcticKat]

That's about what I figured, thanks for the info.

[Heliian]

Like said above, there is always a bottle of oxygen in the cabin somewhere whether it's ABOX for crew use or medi ox I'm not sure. I always make myself aware of the locations of the o2 tank, fire extinguisher and fume hood when i'm on a plane, cause' ya never know.

[ArcticKat]

I hear ya, I'm a paramedic, so I tend to make sure I know where those items are too. I didn't think his story was quite right.

[Troubleshot]

On older jets (737-200 for example) there are two large O2 bottles, one for passengers and one for crew that live in the forward baggage hold. As for starting just one PSU oxygen mask, that is not possible on that system.

[conehead]

FYI: all oxygen generators have recently been removed from the lavs on all airliners. In the event that someone is in the lav during a cabin depressurizatrion, they will be without oxygen. All this because some idiot in the FAA thought the oxygen generators are a hazard.

[Cranium]

[quote="conehead"]FYI: all oxygen generators have recently been removed from the lavs on all airliners. In the event that someone is in the lav during a cabin depressurizatrion, they will be [b]without[/b] oxygen. All this because some idiot in the FAA thought the oxygen generators are a hazard.[/quote]

That's a shame - sometimes a little extra oxygen would come in handy there.

[AME 283]

Removal is mandate by a Canadian and a U.S. airworthiness directive. Typical knee jerk. But the real issue is the poor guy in the lav during a decompression, whose seat is 1/2 way up the cabin, I doubt at 35,000+ ft that he would make it. Industry has to do risk assessments I would like to see the TC risk assessment on this one ?? Our regulators are suppose to be there to help us. Maybe it is time to write to our MPs Common Sense is not so common

[c170b53]

Your O2 delivery is based on your interior options. You can have generators or you can have a system hooked up to bottles. The cabin also has portable O2 bottles with different delivery rates as well. The systems can be operated automatically (rubber jungle) or manually.

[CID]

Some airplanes have a few medical/therapeutic oxygen ports spread throughout the cabin. For advance notice and a nominal charge, they will position you in proximity to a port and supply you with oxygen during the flight.

Those ports are hooked to a tank, not generators as is typical in many aircraft passenger oxygen systems.

[bombardierfixer]

When the masks drop how long does it take to get to 10,000ft? I think it would just be a shitty ride (pun intended) for the emergency descent. Passing out may be a nice option. The 02 genes are only good for 10-15 minutes anyway and thats for a calm person. I'm pretty sure when the rubber jungle appears its any thing but calm...

[ArcticKat]

I'm just guessing, but a 2,000 fpm descent wouldn't be unreasonble, so, from FL400 to 10,000 feet would be about 15 min, and by the time the oxygen runs out the plane would be low enough, even at FL200 for the passengers to remain concious for the remaining few minutes to 10,000 on what little atmospheric oxygen is available.

[CID]

6000 fpm for emergency descent is certainly not unheard of and a higher rate is attainable in some airplanes.