Oxygen Requirements & Supplemental Oxygen Use

What is considered high altitude?

• Per “FAR 61.31(g)

• All flight operations conducted above 25,000’ MSL are high altitude

Oxygen Requirements for unpressurized cabins

• 12,500ft MSL to 14,000ft MSL

  • The minimum crew must have oxygen for flights over 30 minutes @ these altitudes

• Above 14,000ft MSL

  • The minimum crew must have oxygen provided for the whole flight above this altitude

• 15,000ft MSL & Above

  • Passengers must be at least offered Supplemental oxygen the whole time above these altitudes

Oxygen Requirements for pressurized cabins

• Above FL250

  • Additional 10 min of o2 is available per occupant in the event of depressurization

• Above FL350

  • One pilot must wear o2 mask unless both pilots are at controls with quick donning masks and flight is below FL410.

• If one pilot leaves controls above FL350

  • Other pilot must wear o2 mask regardless regardless of mask type.

Whats the recommended altitudes for supplemental oxygen use?

• 10,000' day

• 5,000' night

  • Eyes require more oxygen at night

How high can the body ascend w/out supplemental oxygen & still keep oxygen saturation for normal function?

• From Sea level up to 12,000’ MSL

  • At 12,000’, oxygen saturation is approx. 87%, which gets close to a performance affecting level

  • Above 12,000’ oxygen saturation continues to decrease and affect performance

What happens to our vision with increasing altitudes?

• Our eyes use a lot of oxygen to see

  • @ night we need even more oxygen due to our eyes having to work even harder to see

  • Above 4,000’, without supplemental oxygen, night vision measurably declines