Narrative:

I am having more and more trouble locating sources for filling my portable oxygen bottle including long delays from vendors who do. I believe this to be a safety issue as many pilots will give up on carrying oxygen or will avoid using it as often as appropriate due to the difficulty replacing the supply. Many of the on-airport sources for oxygen are drying up and when trying to fill the bottle at medical oxygen supply sources we run into requirements for prescriptions and; therefore; all the local laws relating to the source and currency of the prescription. In addition; keeping a current prescription can be expensive so again many pilots may not have oxygen when they need it. This is also a problem for instrument flying; as not having oxygen limits the possible vertical options in the airspace. We risk the pilot saying 'negative on that altitude; I couldn't get my oxygen refilled.' I recommend that availability of oxygen services be added to the list of medical safety issues to be addressed by the FAA on an ongoing basis. I also suggest that the FAA create and maintain a list of vendor/sources for aviation oxygen. I also suggest that a federal statute be put in place providing a permanent 'prescription' or whatever is necessary; be issued along with the oxygen equipment that is purchased for aviation use.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN REFILLING PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLES.

Narrative: I AM HAVING MORE AND MORE TROUBLE LOCATING SOURCES FOR FILLING MY PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE INCLUDING LONG DELAYS FROM VENDORS WHO DO. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS MANY PLTS WILL GIVE UP ON CARRYING OXYGEN OR WILL AVOID USING IT AS OFTEN AS APPROPRIATE DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY REPLACING THE SUPPLY. MANY OF THE ON-ARPT SOURCES FOR OXYGEN ARE DRYING UP AND WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE BOTTLE AT MEDICAL OXYGEN SUPPLY SOURCES WE RUN INTO REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESCRIPTIONS AND; THEREFORE; ALL THE LCL LAWS RELATING TO THE SOURCE AND CURRENCY OF THE PRESCRIPTION. IN ADDITION; KEEPING A CURRENT PRESCRIPTION CAN BE EXPENSIVE SO AGAIN MANY PLTS MAY NOT HAVE OXYGEN WHEN THEY NEED IT. THIS IS ALSO A PROB FOR INST FLYING; AS NOT HAVING OXYGEN LIMITS THE POSSIBLE VERT OPTIONS IN THE AIRSPACE. WE RISK THE PLT SAYING 'NEGATIVE ON THAT ALT; I COULDN'T GET MY OXYGEN REFILLED.' I RECOMMEND THAT AVAILABILITY OF OXYGEN SVCS BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF MEDICAL SAFETY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE FAA ON AN ONGOING BASIS. I ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE FAA CREATE AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF VENDOR/SOURCES FOR AVIATION OXYGEN. I ALSO SUGGEST THAT A FEDERAL STATUTE BE PUT IN PLACE PROVIDING A PERMANENT 'PRESCRIPTION' OR WHATEVER IS NECESSARY; BE ISSUED ALONG WITH THE OXYGEN EQUIP THAT IS PURCHASED FOR AVIATION USE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.