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A fractional pilot questioned the potential negative physical consequences of wearing an oxygen mask continuously above FL350.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 960555 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201107 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna Citation Sovereign (C680) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Oxygen System/General |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
I am very concerned about wearing the oxygen mask on a continuous basis. The pressures that are applied on the face and around the neck almost feel as though it is cutting off circulation in the body. It is my understanding that the oxygen system is for emergency use only; used only for brief periods of time; not extended periods; and not for normal operations. Has any doctor looked at what the physiological effects are of wearing the mask for extended periods of time are? Has an FAA medical examiner or an outside doctor done tests on the degree of compression on the neck and face? Have they found that those pressures do not cause harm? What are short term/long term affects of breathing aviator's oxygen? Far regulations 135.89 state that above 35;000 ft or under [part] 91; above 41;000 ft; 1 pilot has to continuously wear an oxygen mask. No quick donning mask has ever been used for that type of use. It seems that owner/operators have not addressed this issue. I would like to know if wearing the O2 mask for longer than the [manufacturer] of the mask has intended is safe. The pressures that are applied by wearing the mask worry me that I am doing damage to my skin and nerves.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A fractional pilot questioned the potential negative physical consequences of wearing an oxygen mask continuously above FL350.
Narrative: I am very concerned about wearing the oxygen mask on a continuous basis. The pressures that are applied on the face and around the neck almost feel as though it is cutting off circulation in the body. It is my understanding that the oxygen system is for emergency use only; used only for brief periods of time; not extended periods; and not for normal operations. Has any doctor looked at what the physiological effects are of wearing the mask for extended periods of time are? Has an FAA medical examiner or an outside doctor done tests on the degree of compression on the neck and face? Have they found that those pressures do not cause harm? What are short term/long term affects of breathing aviator's oxygen? FAR regulations 135.89 state that above 35;000 FT or under [Part] 91; above 41;000 FT; 1 pilot has to continuously wear an oxygen mask. No quick donning mask has ever been used for that type of use. It seems that owner/operators have not addressed this issue. I would like to know if wearing the O2 mask for longer than the [manufacturer] of the mask has intended is safe. The pressures that are applied by wearing the mask worry me that I am doing damage to my skin and nerves.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.