Oxygen concentrators for air passengers certified by US officials

Airline Industry Information, July 15, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Portable oxygen concentrators have been developed by two companies for use on board aircraft.

A Special Federal Aviation Regulation has been issued in the US to allow the small concentrators from AirSept Corporation and Inogen Inc to be used by airline passengers who require medical oxygen.

Previously the use of oxygen during flights was banned because it is typically provided in metal tanks containing the compressed gas, considered a hazardous material, reports Reuters.

The new devices work by filtering out nitrogen from ambient air to provide the user with oxygen at a concentration of about 90%.

Passengers using the concentrators during a flight will be required to inform the pilot and provide a written statement signed by a licensed physician to verify that they are capable of using the device.

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