Business & GA

NBAA 2008: Aircare warns pilots of Hypoxia danger

Aircare Solutions Group (Booth 2637) is educating NBAA attendees with hypoxia awareness demonstrations being conducted at the booth for any willing participants.
Hypoxia is a condition produced by a low oxygen environment, which can be caused by a leak in the aircraft or low cabin pressure. Aircare’s 10-minute exercise involves artificial decompression via the FACTS Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device.

The exercise is designed to help pilots, crew, flight attendants and technicians recognize the symptoms of high-altitude hypoxia in time to get an oxygen mask on, before being overcome by the potentially fatal condition. Training instructors, including medical doctors, are standing by to ensure training safety.

“The exercise limits oxygen to the brain which decreases cognitive skills, reasoning, and then manual skills,” explains Dale Eldredge, sales and marketing director for Aircare Solutions Group, noting that each person reacts differently.

“I experienced a lot of difficulty in memory and thinking,” says Mike Lotzer, chief pilot and national sales manager for RAPCO, who took the exercise. “My math skills dropped off first. Then I had difficulty breathing, my heart rate went up, and I was feeling shaky, like I hadn’t eaten or drank water in several days.”

During the exercise, Lotzer’s math accuracy decreased 10 points and spatial orientation dropped 40%. Despite the discomfort, Lotzer was glad he tried it, and thinks everyone at NBAA should do it. Hypoxia awareness training is part of Aircare’s FACTS training on emergency, evacuation and safety procedures.