HIGH ALTITUDE
OPERATIONS
ATTENTION/
MOTIVATION
• https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw
(6:15)
• DON’T GET HYPOXIC!
• Make sure to know the
regulations and have a plan for
supplemental oxygen is vital!
OVERVIEW
• 1. Regulatory requirements for use of oxygen.
• 2. Physiological hazards associated with high altitude operations.
• 3. Characteristics of a pressurized airplane and various types of
supplemental oxygen systems.
• 4. Importance of “aviator’s breathing oxygen.”
• 5. Care and storage of high-pressure oxygen bottles.
• 6. Problems associated with rapid decompression and
corresponding solutions.
• 7. Fundamental concept of cabin pressurization.
• 8. Operation of a cabin pressurization system.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF
OXYGEN FAR 91.211
• (a) General. No person may operate a civil aircraft of U.S. registry -
• (1) At cabin pressure altitudes above 12,500 feet (MSL) up to and
including 14,000 feet (MSL) unless the required minimum flight crew
is provided with and uses supplemental oxygen for that part of the
flight at those altitudes that is of more than 30 minutes duration;
• (2) At cabin pressure altitudes above 14,000 feet (MSL) unless the
required minimum flight crew is provided with and uses
supplemental oxygen during the entire flight time at those altitudes;
and
• (3) At cabin pressure altitudes above 15,000 feet (MSL) unless each
occupant of the aircraft is provided with supplemental oxygen.
CHART FOR EASIER USE
Hypoxia
PHYSIOLOGICAL • Lack of sufficient oxygen in the blood cells or tissues
HAZARDS caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen, and the
inadequate transportation of oxygen
Treatment
• Descend to lower altitudes (emergency descent) and the
use of supplemental oxygem
Decompression sickness
• nitrogen in the body changing from liquid form to gaseous
state due to a dramatic reduction in surrounding
atmospheric pressure
• < 8,000 ft 12 hours for non-decompression dives
• < 8,000 ft 24 hours for decompression dives.
• > 8,000 ft, 24 hours minimum.
Vision tends to deteriorate with altitude
• The eyes require oxygen
• Glare and deteriorated vision are enhanced at night when
the body is more susceptible to hypoxia.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PRESSURIZED AIRPLANE AND
VARIOUS TYPES OF SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN SYSTEMS.
• Cabin pressurization is the compression of air to maintain a cabin altitude lower than
the flight altitude
• This removes the need for full-time use of supplemental oxygen
• A cabin pressure altitude of approximately 8,000’ is maintained and prevents rapid changes of
cabin
altitude that may be uncomfortable or cause injury to passengers/crew (prevents against hypoxia)
• Turbine powered aircraft – bleed air from the engine compressor section is used to
pressurize the cabin
• In most light planes, the turbocharger’s compressor or engine driven pneumatic pump
pressurizes the cabin
• Compression heats the air, so it’s routed through a heat exchange unit before entering the cabin
• Air is released from the fuselage by a device called an outflow valve. By regulating the air exit, the
outflow valve allows for a constant inflow of air to the pressurized area.
• The flight crew in this type of aircraft must be aware of the danger of accidental loss of
cabin pressure and be prepared to deal with such an emergency whenever it occurs.
Vacuum relief : prevents ambient
pressures from exceeding cabin pressure
by allowing external air to enter when
ambient pressures exceed cabin
pressure.
Dump valve: dumps cabin air to the
atmosphere (Switch in cockpit)
Pressure relief: prevents the cabin
TYPES OF OXYGEN SYSTEMS
•Continuous flow
● Continuous-flow oxygen systems
are usually provided for
passengers.
● The passenger mask typically has a
reservoir bag that collects oxygen
from the continuous-flow oxygen
system during the time when the
mask user is exhaling.
● Ambient air is added to the
supplied oxygen during inhalation
after the reservoir bag oxygen
supply is depleted.
● The exhaled air is released to the
cabin. Very wasteful
DILUTER DEMAND
• Diluter-demand oxygen systems supply
oxygen only when the user inhales
through the mask.
• An automix lever allows the regulators
to automatically mix cabin air and
oxygen or supply 100 percent oxygen,
depending on the altitude.
• The demand mask provides a tight seal
over the face to prevent dilution with
outside air and can be used safely up to
40,000 feet.
• A pilot who has a beard or mustache
should be sure it is trimmed in a
manner that will not interfere with the
sealing of the oxygen mask.
PRESSURE DEMAND
• Pressure-demand oxygen systems are
similar to diluter demand oxygen
equipment, except that oxygen is
supplied to the mask under pressure at
cabin altitudes above 34,000 feet.
• Pressure-demand regulators create
airtight and oxygen-tight seals, but
they also provide a positive pressure
application of oxygen to the mask
facepiece that allows the user’s lungs
to be pressurized with oxygen.
• This feature makes pressure demand
regulators safe at altitudes above
40,000 feet.
CANNULA
• A cannula is an ergonomic piece of plastic tubing that runs
under the nose to administer oxygen to the user.
• Cannulas are typically more comfortable than masks, but
may not provide an adequate flow of oxygen as reliably as
masks when operating at higher altitudes.
• current regulations require aircraft with oxygen systems
installed and certified for operations above 18,000 feet to
be equipped with oxygen masks instead of cannulas.
ELECTRICAL PULSE-DEMAND OXYGEN SYSTEM
• Portable electrical pulse-demand
oxygen systems deliver oxygen by
detecting an individual’s inhalation
effort and provide oxygen flow during
the initial portion of inhalation.
• Compared to continuous-flow systems,
the pulse- demand method of oxygen
delivery can reduce the amount of
oxygen needed by 50–85 percent.
• Most pulse-demand oxygen systems
also incorporate an internal barometer
that automatically compensates for
changes in altitude by increasing the
amount of oxygen delivered for each
pulse as altitude is increased.
AVIATOR’S BREATHER OXYGEN
• Aviators breathing oxygen is specified at 99.5% pure oxygen
and not more than .005mg of water per liter
• It is recommended that aviator’s breathing oxygen be used at all
times, medical and industrial oxygen may not be safe
• Medical oxygen has too much water, which can collect in various parts
of the system and freeze
• Industrial oxygen is not intended for breathing and may have
impurities in it (metal shavings, etc.)
• Most high altitude aircraft come equipped with some type
of fixed oxygen installation.
OXYGEN • If the aircraft does not have a fixed installation, portable
oxygen equipment must be readily accessible during flight.
TANKS • Aircraft oxygen is usually stored in high pressure system
containers of 1,800–2,200 psi.
(STORAGE,
• When the ambient temperature surrounding an oxygen
cylinder decreases, pressure within that cylinder decreases
because pressure varies directly with temperature if the
CARE, ETC.)
volume of a gas remains constant.
• If a drop in indicated pressure is noted due to temperature, there
is no reason to suspect depletion of the supply
• High pressure oxygen containers should be marked with
the psi tolerance (i.e., 1,800 psi) before filling the container
to that pressure.
• Be aware of the dangers of fire
• Materials that are nearly fireproof in ordinary air may be
susceptible to combustion in oxygen.
• Oils and greases may ignite if exposed to oxygen and
cannot be used for sealing the valves and fittings of
oxygen equipment.
• Smoking during any kind of oxygen equipment use is
prohibited.
• Before each flight, the pilot should thoroughly inspect and
test all oxygen equipment.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH RAPID
DECOMPRESSION AND CORRESPONDING
SOLUTIONS.
• Explosive decompression
• a change in cabin pressure faster than the lungs can decompress, possibly resulting in lung damage. Normally, the
time required to release air from the lungs without restrictions, such as masks, is 0.2 seconds. Most authorities
consider any decompression that occurs in less than 0.5 seconds to be explosive and potentially dangerous.
• Rapid decompression
• a change in cabin pressure in which the lungs decompress faster than the cabin. (therefore no danger for damage)
• Indications
• During an explosive decompression, there may be noise, and one may feel dazed for a moment. The cabin air fills
with fog, dust, or flying debris. Fog occurs due to the rapid drop in temperature and the change of relative
humidity.
• Rapid decompression decreases the period of useful consciousness because oxygen in the lungs is exhaled rapidly,
reducing pressure on the body.
• This decreases the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood and reduces the pilot’s effective performance time by
one-third to one-fourth its normal time. For this reason, an oxygen mask should be worn when flying at very high
altitudes
• Structural damage also has the potential to expose them to wind blasts and extremely cold temperatures.
THE PRIMARY DANGER OF
DECOMPRESSION IS HYPOXIA.
• Quick, proper utilization of oxygen equipment is necessary to avoid
unconsciousness.
• Another potential danger that pilots, crew, and passengers face during high
altitude decompressions is evolved gas decompression sickness. This occurs
when the pressure on the body drops sufficiently, nitrogen comes out of
solution, and forms bubbles inside the person that can have adverse effects on
some body tissues.
• Recovery from all types of decompression involves donning oxygen masks and
an emergency descent The top priority is reaching a safe altitude
• Be aware, cold shock in piston engines can result from rapid high-altitude
descents, cracking cylinders
• The time to make a recovery before loss of useful consciousness is much less
with an explosive decompression
CONCLUSION • The fundamental concept of cabin
pressurization is that it is the
compression of air in the airplane’s
cabin to maintain a cabin altitude
lower than the actual flight altitude. If
your airplane is equipped with a
pressurization system, you must know
the normal and emergency operating
procedures. It is also important to
understand the oxygen requirements
for flying and what kinds of masks
there are to use.
QUIZ
• What is a cannula?
• What are the oxygen requirements under 91.211?
• Describe a pressure demand mask
• What is explosive decompression
• What is rapid decompression?
• 14 CFR part 91, AC 61-107, AIM,
POH/AFM; FAA-H8083-3, FAA-S-
8081-12.
REFERENCE • PHAK Chapter 17
• PHAK Chapter 7
• FAA Oxygen Equipment Brochure
