Possible Fix For Military Airframe Hypoxia Issues

Decompression sickness is also mentioned.
I found the comments attached to the article interesting, esp. the one made by "Phil", a respiratory physiologist concerning the effects of diet (even mouthwash) on hypoxia.
These comments may be worth the read esp. by those who have flown or currently fly.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/magazine/air-force-hypoxia-pilots-navy.html

Good article. I wasn't aware the AF was moving away from LOX/GOX.

I'd be curious to know, is there not a 100%/emergency o2 option on the new concentrator system regulators? Seems bizarre those F35 fliers had to land with hypoxia-like conditions.

I can't speak for all systems, but all of the oxygen regulators I've seen in AF aircraft have settings for 100% oxygen and pressurized feed. Hitting both of those, called "gang load," is the standard procedure after rapid decompression or hypoxia symptoms.

This has been a problem in T-6s for quite a while. Personally, I'm concerned that more drastic actions were not taken earlier. The issue was confounding researchers, but the fleet kept flying. Apparently, someone decided risking aircraft and crews even with a known, potentially fatal, issue was worth it to keep UPT production on schedule.

Tbpxece said:

Good article. I wasn't aware the AF was moving away from LOX/GOX.

I'd be curious to know, is there not a 100%/emergency o2 option on the new concentrator system regulators? Seems bizarre those F35 fliers had to land with hypoxia-like conditions.

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The T-6 has an emergency bottle O2 supply that is separate from the OBOGS system. Its only a 10ish minute supply though.

Nemo567 said:

Tbpxece said:

Good article. I wasn't aware the AF was moving away from LOX/GOX.

I'd be curious to know, is there not a 100%/emergency o2 option on the new concentrator system regulators? Seems bizarre those F35 fliers had to land with hypoxia-like conditions.

Click to expand...

The T-6 has an emergency bottle O2 supply that is separate from the OBOGS system. Its only a 10ish minute supply though.

Click to expand...

Ok, we have those yellow portable bottles on regular AF aircraft as well. I'm speaking to a setting on the regulator itself that flips the O2 from mixing to 100% oxygen. Its intended use is for a variety of things, including suspected hypoxia. Seems odd they wouldn't have that on 22s and 35s, but like @raimius , I can't speak to all aircraft.

Tbpxece said:

Ok, we have those yellow portable bottles on regular AF aircraft as well. I'm speaking to a setting on the regulator itself that flips the O2 from mixing to 100% oxygen. Its intended use is for a variety of things, including suspected hypoxia. Seems odd they wouldn't have that on 22s and 35s, but like @raimius , I can't speak to all aircraft.

Click to expand...

At least in the T-6, for any hypoxia symptoms your not messing with the OBOGS. Your going straight to the green right and the emergency O2.