Oxygen equipment and handling
Oxygen system: mask or cannula + regulator (sets oxygen flow for cabin altitude) (PHAK ch.7).
- Cannula: tube under nose. More comfortable, but may give less reliable flow than mask at higher altitudes.
Required use (CAR 605.32):
| Cabin pressure altitude | Who | Requirement | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 13,000 ft ASL | Each person on board | Wear oxygen mask, use supplemental oxygen | 605.32(2) |
| 10,000-13,000 ft | Each crew member | If more than 30 min | 605.32(1) |
Equipment and handling:
- Fixed or portable: no fixed installation = portable equipment readily accessible in flight.
- Portable set: container, regulator, mask outlet, pressure gauge.
- Storage: high-pressure containers, usually 1,800-2,200 psi. Container marked with psi tolerance before filling to it.
- Purity: meets or exceeds SAE AS8010 (aviator's breathing oxygen standard).
- Cold: cylinder pressure falls with temperature (gas volume fixed). Lower reading after unheated storage is not necessarily lost oxygen.
- Fire:
- Materials nearly fireproof in air can burn in oxygen.
- Oils and greases may ignite in oxygen: never use to seal valves or fittings.
- Smoking prohibited during any oxygen equipment use.
- After use: verify all components and valves shut off.
Preflight (thoroughly inspect and test all oxygen equipment before each flight; clean hands):
- Supplemental oxygen available, readily accessible
- Operational check
- Mask and tubing: tears, cracks, deterioration
- Regulator valve and lever
- Quantity
- Gauges, flow indicators, connections
- Don mask, test system
Trap: lower gauge reading on cold-soaked cylinder may be gas cooling, not a leak (PHAK); oil or grease on oxygen fittings is a fire hazard, never lubricant or sealant.
References
- PHAK ch.7 (FAA-H-8083-25), Oxygen Systems
- CAR 605.32 (Use of Oxygen); TC AIM RAC Annex, Use of Oxygen