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For presentation at Form 2 course, BSS.

• FORM 2

• OXYGEN EQUIPMENT SEMINAR

• July 2004• Ian Cook

• Thanks to Harry Oxer for the use of the photographs and advise

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Hypoxia

• What is hypoxia and what can happen with prolonged hypoxia?Hypoxia is the physical condition induced by an inadequate concentration of oxygen in the blood and the organs. The insidious danger of hypoxia is the subject's unawareness of his deteriorating faculties which may actually be perceived as a feeling of well-being or euphoria. Exposure to severe hypoxia will result in unconsciousness. Note: there is a wide variability in individual tolerance.

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BREATHING AIR SAFETY POINTS

• Read this literature carefully as your and others lives does depend on correct handling procedures

• Oxygen under high pressure in the presence of organic compounds can cause spontaneous combustion.

• If oil or grease contaminated fitting and threads come in contact with Oxygen under high pressure there may be an explosion

• This includes sunburn cream, skin grease, cooking oils.• All equipment must be clean and free of dust• Cleaning is carried out using alcohol solvents and then allow all components to dry

thoroughly. There are special solvents & procedures available.• All components must be stored in clean sealed plastic bags in the plastic case

located in the canteen.• Always store MH cylinders in their protective bags, full and in a cool area.• Only endorsed members may operate club MH EDS units.• Oxygen cylinders can be filled by members on the current list:• Only approved breathing oxygen cylinders that comply with Australian Standards and

are in current test can be filled.• Use only Dry Aviation Breathing Oxygen BOC Code 430 / RAAF Spec G172

Using oxygen for gliding

Mountain High

EDS-D1 system

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Mountain High

Oxygen supply

Cylinder, contents gauge and regulator

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EDS

Pulse demand

unit

Speak port. Flow fault & apnea conditions

External battery port Rt hand side

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On/off switch and flow rate settings

Green LED positive flowRed LED oxygen flow faults, & low battery

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Using oxygen

Check:• Cylinder – security, sufficient contents, turned ON, gauge visible.

• Plumbing – lines correctly attached and secured

• Battery in unit and working. A spare battery and jack should be carried in an inside pocket. Battery effected by low temp

• EDS Unit connected to O2 supply and to nasal cannula or mask – fit mask/Cannula prior to take off.

• Check operation before commencing flying

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Settings

• The EDS unit has four different flow rate settings. These provide different O2 flow rates for a variety of conditions and personnel requirements

• N

• D5, D10, D12

• F10, F15, F20, F25

• R/M

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N Settings

‘N’ settings: Night or Now Mode

Responds to breathing actions at all altitudes with standard delivery protocols. “Set and fly”.

Recommended that all pilots use this setting for the majority of flights

Flow increases automatically with height

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D Setting• Day or Delayed Mode

• Setting available ‘D5, D10, D12

• The EDS unit does not start delivering O2 till you reach the prescribed pressure altitude setting.

• Setting ‘D12’ • On D12 the unit does not start delivering O2 till a pressure altitude of

12,000’ is reached.• Flow rate of 1.2 L/m

• Recommended that you use the D5 setting• Flow increases automatically with height

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F setting• ‘F’ settings: Floor or Mask

• Each settings cause the EDS unit to ADD additional O2 equivalent to the indicated setting.

• Setting ‘F10,F15, F20,F25’

• Setting F10• At 8000’ the effective flow rate is .8 L/M + 1.0 L/m =1.8L/M

• Setting ‘F20’• At 4000’ you receive .4 L/M + 2.0 L/m =2.4L/M

• Useful if a smoker or have a respiratory condition

• Flow increases automatically with height

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R/M Setting

• ‘R/M’ settings: Reserve / Manual

• This setting causes the EDS unit to respond to breathing actions with a fixed pulse length of 1/2 sec, regardless of pressure altitude.

• Equates to 100% O2 for conventional systems.

• Effective flow rate of 10 L/M.

• Used as an emergency setting and allows deep inspiration breathing and maximum absorption.

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Press nose clip

to fitPull

elastic both sides to snug fit

Place elastic

above earsOnly mask above 18.000 with EDS 1 (FAA STD)

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Alarms

• The EDS unit has audio and visual (red LED) alarms.

• Flow fault• Pinched line. (Personal experience line pinched on undercarriage

lever)

• O2 supply removed

• Battery power to low to activate valves. (Go to R/M setting)

• APNEA Alarm• Quite breathing for 45 sec• Outlet Cannula disconnected• Outlet Cannula tube pinched

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Using oxygen

• Above 18,000’ FAI recommend full mask rather than just nasal prongs. *See note 1

• MUST be on by 10,000ft ‘GFA requirement’• MUST trigger oxygen with each breath – this

usually means breathe IN through nose• Alarms sounds if 45 seconds elapse without

breathing through nose, oxygen supply run out, battery power low, pinched line on HP or LP side or disconnected.

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• If you wear a beard, a good mask seal is difficult or impossible.

• Trim very short or remove beard prior to using masks.

• “For some of us beards makes us look younger and more dashing”

• You risk hypoxia at altitude!

• Note 1• I and others with beards have successfully used the system with a

cannula on a number of wave flights to 23,000ft

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Low battery alarm

• If Low Battery fault warning LED is on. Insert jack to reserve battery. Check system Ok.

• If battery fault alarm still on • press to last button position – R/M mode

(reserve/manual) – gives half second oxygen pulses.

• airbrakes, undercarriage down, and descend as quickly as safety allows. Don’t exceed Vne!

• This means well below 10,000ft

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Alarms

• If any flow or fault alarms remain on and the fault cannot be diagnosed and fixed within I minute.

• press to last button position – R/M mode (reserve/manual) – gives half second oxygen pulses.

• airbrakes, undercarriage down, and descend as quickly as safety allows. Don’t exceed Vne!

• This means well below 10,000ft

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Summary

I personally use the ‘N’ setting & use oxygen on all flights except local or low altitude.

If older, respiratory problems etc. use “F” settings

Regularly Check your Oxygen system and know its functions.

“It is your life that you may be putting at risk”.