Narrative:

On the night of oct/xx/93 we had a passenger that was taken to the local hospital, after landing (immediately after takeoff). When the local ambulance arrived it had no oxygen. I decided to give the portable oxygen bottle to the affected passenger. We then proceeded to continue the flight. I was informed that the oxygen bottle was gone, it was later returned empty. I checked my MEL and it shows nothing about missing or empty oxygen bottles. I immediately contacted my dispatch office. They said to wait there, that an oxygen bottle was on its way on a private charter flight. This went for 2 1/2 hours. We later were informed that the bottle is now arriving on a different aircraft and it will take a little longer to arrive! I was later called by the chief pilot and later by the director of operation. The director of operation informed me that it was very legal to depart to sju without a portable oxygen bottle, if I flew below 10000 ft. I agreed. I then requested a release giving me approval to do just that. Well, they never did -- until repeated calls from me back to them did they finally send the proper documentation! I feel that because I discussed the problem with my first officer we both decided to further delay the flight, because we felt it was highly irregular to depart with missing emergency equipment. Because of this my first officer was fired! They believe he was subordinate 'I was using crew re-management.' I was suspended for agreeing with him and not exercising 'PIC authority/authorized.' I was the only person with final authority/authorized and I decided to leave, when the proper paper came in. I feel pressured from company because I did a good job and doing the right thing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT AND FO OF AN MDT ACFT WERE DISCIPLINED WHEN THEY DELAYED A FLT DUE TO WAITING FOR A DISPATCH RELEASE TO OPERATE AT A LOWER ALT DUE TO A LACK OF PORTABLE OXYGEN FOR EMER PAX MEDICAL USE.

Narrative: ON THE NIGHT OF OCT/XX/93 WE HAD A PAX THAT WAS TAKEN TO THE LCL HOSPITAL, AFTER LNDG (IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF). WHEN THE LCL AMBULANCE ARRIVED IT HAD NO OXYGEN. I DECIDED TO GIVE THE PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE TO THE AFFECTED PAX. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE THE FLT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN BOTTLE WAS GONE, IT WAS LATER RETURNED EMPTY. I CHKED MY MEL AND IT SHOWS NOTHING ABOUT MISSING OR EMPTY OXYGEN BOTTLES. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY DISPATCH OFFICE. THEY SAID TO WAIT THERE, THAT AN OXYGEN BOTTLE WAS ON ITS WAY ON A PVT CHARTER FLT. THIS WENT FOR 2 1/2 HRS. WE LATER WERE INFORMED THAT THE BOTTLE IS NOW ARRIVING ON A DIFFERENT ACFT AND IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO ARRIVE! I WAS LATER CALLED BY THE CHIEF PLT AND LATER BY THE DIRECTOR OF OP. THE DIRECTOR OF OP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS VERY LEGAL TO DEPART TO SJU WITHOUT A PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE, IF I FLEW BELOW 10000 FT. I AGREED. I THEN REQUESTED A RELEASE GIVING ME APPROVAL TO DO JUST THAT. WELL, THEY NEVER DID -- UNTIL REPEATED CALLS FROM ME BACK TO THEM DID THEY FINALLY SEND THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION! I FEEL THAT BECAUSE I DISCUSSED THE PROB WITH MY FO WE BOTH DECIDED TO FURTHER DELAY THE FLT, BECAUSE WE FELT IT WAS HIGHLY IRREGULAR TO DEPART WITH MISSING EMER EQUIP. BECAUSE OF THIS MY FO WAS FIRED! THEY BELIEVE HE WAS SUBORDINATE 'I WAS USING CREW RE-MGMNT.' I WAS SUSPENDED FOR AGREEING WITH HIM AND NOT EXERCISING 'PIC AUTH.' I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WITH FINAL AUTH AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE, WHEN THE PROPER PAPER CAME IN. I FEEL PRESSURED FROM COMPANY BECAUSE I DID A GOOD JOB AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.