Oxygen on Board – Survey Results and Findings

About 6 weeks ago, we addressed the topic of “Oxygen on Board” and launched a survey. Around 70 pilots took part, of whom around 82% were powered flight pilots, 12% glider pilots and 6% helicopter pilots. Thank you very much! We are happy to share the answers with you and draw some conclusions.

Survey results…

As was to be expected, all pilots have already dealt with the topic, although around 20% of the participants admitted that they have not yet integrated the topic sufficiently into their flight planning. There may be various reasons for this. Either they only dealt with the topic marginally during their training and/or flights at or above 10,000 feet are only occasionally carried out, i.e. less than 5 times a year. It is also encouraging that the majority are aware of the risk of altitude sickness (hypoxia) and around 80% carry a pulse oximeter or even an oxygen supply on board.

Even though only around 17% of those surveyed stated that they had noticed a lack of oxygen with the typical symptoms (restlessness, anxiety, anxiety, drowsiness, tingling in the hands or reaction of passengers), the experience was incorporated into the follow-up and almost half of them bought a pulse oximeter or an oxygen device afterwards.

Findings: Never go too high!

If you fly in the Alps, you can’t avoid the topic of “oxygen on board”. You quickly reach the altitude where the air becomes thinner. If you want to avoid the least of the evils, such as frequent headaches after a flight in the Alps, you should familiarize yourself with the topic, know the symptoms of altitude sickness and mitigate the risk. For the vast majority of light aviation pilots, the following three measures are a sensible way to avoid altitude sickness:

1.) Use of oxygen in combination

• At higher altitudes, air pressure decreases, and with it the available oxygen. Hypoxia occurs depending on your physical condition at altitudes of 10,000ft (approx. 3,000 meters) and above. In aircraft without a pressurized cabin, you should therefore always use an oxygen mask from 10,000ft.
• On night flights, oxygen enrichment can be helpful from as little as 5,000ft, as vision is affected by a lack of oxygen.

The simplest and most economical is the Oxymizer cannula, which hangs like a moustache over the mouth. Two supply tubes above the ears hold the cannula, which continuously blows oxygen into the nostrils via two open tubes. The cost of an oxygen system is around 1200 CHF/€.

2.) Recognize the symptoms of hypoxia, which are:

• fatigue
• headaches
• dizziness
• shortness of breath
• euphoria or misjudgment
• difficulty in decision-making

If you notice such symptoms, react immediately: reduce altitude or use oxygen.

3.) Good health, oximeter and training

• Avoiding smoking and alcohol: Smoking or drinking alcohol before flying can increase the risk of hypoxia, as both impair the transport of oxygen in the blood.
• Check your health: Some health conditions, such as anemia or cardiovascular disease, can increase your susceptibility to hypoxia. Regular health check-ups are important.
• Pulse oximeter: A small, portable device that you can attach to your finger to monitor blood oxygen levels. It displays the percentage of oxygen saturation and can provide an early indication of falling oxygen levels.
• Checklists and training: Use checklists to ensure that all necessary measures to prevent hypoxia are in place, especially for flights at higher altitudes. Regular training in how to deal with hypoxia symptoms (e.g. in hypoxia training) can improve your ability to recognize them in time and take action.

What is your next step?

Background information:

FAA Hypoxia Testing – How Long Do We Last? (youtube.com)

(8) Pilot starved of Oxygen in a hypoxia chamber – YouTube

Lesson learned: Höhenrausch – Stay Safe – Safety Promotion for General Aviation

Safety first, every flight, every time.