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5 Answers

Use of Medical oxygen in portable aviation system

Asked by: 7828 views
Aircraft Systems, General Aviation

If I am going to use a portable oxygen system that is assured to be inside the cabin and at no point ever exposed to freezing temperatures, is it ok to use medical oxygen in the tank. Meaning is it ok to use medical oxygen that will have more moisture content than aviation oxygen? I only ever heard of the concern being exposure to low temperatures and the freezing of components due to the humidity being present. If its always warm and inside.... can medical O2 be used to fill?

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5 Answers



  1. LTCTerry on Jan 03, 2014

    Here’s an interesting article/blog on that very topic: http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182079-1.html?redirected=1

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  2. Mark Kolber on Jan 04, 2014

    The FAA advisories on using only “aviation oxygen” is pretty much a relic from the past. AS Deakin explains in the article LTCTerry linked, at least in the US, oxygen is oxygen and all is manufactured the same way with pretty much the same purity.

    Makes sense of course – why have three different sets of equipment when one will do just fine?

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  3. Wes Beard on Jan 04, 2014

    I have a a doctor pilot friend who uses medical oxygen religiously up to 14,500 feet in his unpressurized airplane. He has never had any issues with it. It also saves him a lot of money on each refill.

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  4. Mohammad Adaileh on Jan 24, 2014

    aviator breathing oxygen are 99.5% pure oxygen

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  5. Mark Kolber on Jan 25, 2014

    Mohammad,

    …and the others are…?

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