Cabin pressure and medical issues
 

Hi all,
I wonder if you guys can help me. My Aunt recently flew from Johannesburg to Alicante. While away she was diagnosed with cancer and told that she has weeks to live. :( The doc won't let her on a plane to go home because of the low air pressure.

I want to know if the low pressure in airliners is really necessary, or is it just a cost saving ploy? If the airline could set the cabin altitude to something more like sea level, she could spend her last weeks at home.

Thanks in advance!

I'm sorry to hear of this.
You need to check with the doctor whether supplementary oxygen would allow her to fly. You may need to find an aviation qualified doctor in Alicante.
Then you need to find an airline that will either:

• Allow her to use her portable oxygen aboard
• Set up an oxygen dispenser at her seat. There is only one carrier in the USA that offers this service and is the only one my uncle can fly on. It takes coordination with the airline's medical department some days in advance.

You may want to check with the medical department of the airline that flew your aunt to Alicante.
Hope this helps.

From my airlines Cabin Crew Operations Manual:
The ideal conditions would be to simulate ground level atmospheric pressure, however this is not practicable due to design and weight problems. To alleviate this problem the cabin is pressurised to between 6,000 ft to 8,000 ft. This is dependent on the altitude at which the aircraft is actually flying.

Thanks for the info. I think the pressure is the issue, not the availability of oxygen. I think that if she goes up, they are worried that something might pop.
OK, I'll just have to wait to see what the doc says.

Very sad news indeed. Your other alternative (albeit an expensive one) would be to charter an air ambulance to get her back home.

Wellie,
Most of the pressurised aircraft I've flown can provide a sea level cabin at between FL140 and FL200. Most wouldn't have the range at those levels that they would as their normal cruise levels. So whilst it is a cost saving, it's not a ploy.
As an example a year or so ago I had some live chickens on board for a 2 sector flight of 1100nm and 700nm. To stop the chickens freezing in the hold, cruise was about FL200 and burned an extra 3000kg of fuel. 3000kg = 3797 litres!
Perhaps a medivac is the answer.