MickG0105
6th Sep 2016, 04:13
A question for any cabin crew regarding your training on the use of portable "walk-around" oxygen cylinders in the event of a decompression. I am trying to get an understanding of how long a cylinder would last under normal use. Are you taught to open the valve to 100%? or to some setting less than 100%?
MickG0105
14th Sep 2016, 23:30
It depends on the cylinder manufacturer and local legislatory requirements - however I do recall there being a mandated minimum. It's got me thinking - will ask my friends still flying.
From memory, it was 100% in emergency situations, which was like only 4lt / min (it was 4 or 8 - but its been a while!)
I do remember the BA 767s we leased at QF had (I think) double the duration in the fixed cabin drop down masks, supposedly due to their frequent trips over high altitude areas.
To be honest, I always thought they were a health and safety hazard. The only time I used a bottle on myself (in an actual depressurisation event), we had to wrangle them in severe turbulence as the aircraft descended. They could be improved with something that secured them to an individual better.
Many thanks for that.
Pax oxygen is either bottled compressed oxy (eg QF B747-400) or single use chemical oxy generators (12 minute or 22 minute).