What is the FAA oxygen rule?

FAA encourages oxygen use for pilots on flights operating above 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). The regulations for flying above an altitude of 12,500 up to and including 14,000 are fairly simple. At that altitude, all crew must use supplemental oxygen continuously if the flight is over thirty minutes.



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For best protection, you are encouraged to use supplemental oxygen above 10,000 feet MSL. At night, because vision is particularly sensitive to diminished oxygen, a prudent rule is to use supplemental oxygen when flying above 6,000 feet MSL. So, when you fly at high altitudes, supplemental oxygen is the only solution.

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But, that speech carries a beautiful message regarding self-care. The Oxygen Mask Rule is simple: if the cabin loses pressure, oxygen masks will fall from above. You are to place yours on yourself before trying to help others.

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When the altitude of an airplane is less than 12,500 feet, there is no supplemental oxygen required for anyone in a private plane. From 12,500 feet to 14,000 feet, supplemental oxygen must be used by the required flight crew for any portion of the flight that is more than 30 minutes.

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Without oxygen, you will quickly feel drowsy and even euphoric, a phenomenon known as hypoxia, but as time passes, continued lack of oxygen to the brain will lead to blackouts, passing out, and possibly even death.

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If anything happens to the pressurization system, or the plane experiences any difficulties while in flight, oxygen masks will deploy. Oxygen masks supply roughly 10-14 minutes of oxygen, which is more than enough time for a pilot to descend below 10,000 feet, where the atmosphere has enough oxygen.

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In aeronautics, hypoxia typically results from a decompression or lack of pressurisation of the aircraft cabin. Hypoxia occurs within a few minutes if the cabin pressure altitude rises to between 5,000-6,000 m (about 16,000 - 20,000 ft).

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The FAA requires a pilot to put on the oxygen mask if the other pilot leaves cockpit when cruising above FL250. It also requires that one pilot always wears an oxygen mask when flying above FL410.

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A simple pulse oximeter reading while you are at high altitude, at rest and during activity, can determine if oxygen is needed at altitude. Alternatively, some pulmonary function labs can perform an altitude simulation test to determine your oxygen saturation at altitude.

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Resting Pulse Oximetry
Values >95% on room air suggest that inflight hypoxemia is unlikely and that further evaluation is likely not necessary. Patients with saturations <92% on room air at rest should receive supplemental oxygen inflight, because they are at high risk of hypoxemia at altitude.

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Provided you are asking for the same sort of oxygen supply you already use at home, you call your usual oxygen supplier. They will fill in all the necessary forms and send them to the local oxygen supplier where you are staying. The local supply company will then deliver the oxygen and install any equipment you need.

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Passengers may not carry their own oxygen (compressed oxygen or liquid oxygen) in checked baggage, in carry-on baggage or on their person. Products such as canned oxygen, recreational oxygen and flavored oxygen are also prohibited.

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After about 20 minutes without supplemental oxygen, you will be pronounced dead. By the time you get to 35,000 feet, EPT drops to 30 to 60 seconds and it falls to nine to 15 seconds at 45,000.

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If anything happens to the pressurization system, or the plane experiences any difficulties while in flight, oxygen masks will deploy. Oxygen masks supply roughly 10-14 minutes of oxygen, which is more than enough time for a pilot to descend below 10,000 feet, where the atmosphere has enough oxygen.

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When the altitude of an airplane is less than 12,500 feet, there is no supplemental oxygen required for anyone in a private plane. From 12,500 feet to 14,000 feet, supplemental oxygen must be used by the required flight crew for any portion of the flight that is more than 30 minutes.

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The general rule is that planes should have cabin pressurization when they go above 10,000 to 14,000 feet. Can a pilot depressurize a cabin? Most aircraft cabins are pressurized to an altitude of 8,000 feet, called cabin altitude.

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