NEWS Big surprise, OBOGS back in the news.

[Brett327]

FWIW, I had an OBOGS Hypoxia Physiological Event in my jet today. Pilot symptomatic 2-3 minutes after takeoff, I was asymptomatic in the back seat. Executed bold face, symptoms resolved within 1 minute, landed uneventfully. Interesting to go through, and to see all the post flight work-up stuff at medical.

 

[sevenhelmet]

Whew! Glad you're OK, Brett. Out of curiosity (and for comparison's sake) how long would you estimate it was between pulling the green ring and doc/HM2 getting blood samples?

 

[Brett327]

No labs done in this case. I got the sense that they're only doing those for suspected cases of hystotoxic hypoxia. We were met by medical upon shutdown in our line, so the earliest opportunity to draw blood would have been about 35 minutes after green ring. They got pulse oxymeters on us at that time. Both of us were within normal ranges. Doc said carbon monoxide probably wasn't a factor in this case. Pilot symptoms were classic ROBD effects.

 

[Gatordev]

No labs done in this case. I got the sense that they're only doing those for suspected cases of hystotoxic hypoxia. We were met by medical upon shutdown in our line, so the earliest opportunity to draw blood would have been about 35 minutes after green ring. They got pulse oxymeters on us at that time. Both of us were within normal ranges. Doc said carbon monoxide probably wasn't a factor in this case. Pilot symptoms were classic ROBD effects.

Glad you're okay. Thank goodness this didn't happen on Thursday afternoon when Medical is closed for training. You would have had to wait until Friday to be monitored. NO EXCEPTIONS!

 

[Brett327]

Thanks - The good thing is that all the procedures worked and the pilot's symptoms resolved very quickly. After we pulled our green rings, I thought to myself... I'm going to give him 15-20 seconds, then ask him how he's feeling... and if he doesn't answer, or is incoherent, then shit just got real.

 

[sevenhelmet]

I hope the EI turns something up in this case.

FWIW, I think the filter media should be replaced more often than it is. Not cleaned, just replaced. From what I understand, the Zirconium filter media (if that's the correct term) in the concentrator can break down with little or no warning. That makes me wonder if the concentrator is like Rhino generator reliability in that it's failing sooner than the designers and planners thought it would. If so, more frequent replacement should reduce the number of EPs associated with OBOGS.

I realize it's probably not that simple. Just some random thoughts over morning coffee...

 

[EODDave]

If we are talking of replacing something, my vote is for LOX!

 

[TexasForever]

My vote is for using pure common sense and not going above 500 feet.... ever

 

[sevenhelmet]

We got a PCL interim change for the Hornet and Rhino this week, some minor OBOGS/hypoxia/cabin pressure wording changes.

 

[pourts]

We got a PCL interim change for the Hornet and Rhino this week, some minor OBOGS/hypoxia/cabin pressure wording changes.

Yay! Who doesn't love arts and crafts?

 

[sevenhelmet]

This one was just two pages, thankfully. The last one right before we got new PCLs was over 20, in a PCL that was already starting to look like a dog-eared copy of the Unabridged Webster Dictionary full of those little postcard mailers they stuff in magazines.

People have to get their FITREP fodder somewhere...

 

[nittany03]

This one was just two pages, thankfully. The last one right before we got new PCLs was over 20, in a PCL that was already starting to look like a dog-eared copy of the Unabridged Webster Dictionary full of those little postcard mailers they stuff in magazines.

People have to get their FITREP fodder somewhere...

I love how the PCL itself is special weatherproof paper or plastic or whatever, probably meeting some absurd spec, which now contains a dated procedure. Yet for the actual new procedure you're expected to follow . . . meh. Printer paper's good enough for that one.

 

[Beans]

I love how the PCL itself is special weatherproof paper or plastic or whatever, probably meeting some absurd spec, which now contains a dated procedure. Yet for the actual new procedure you're expected to follow . . . meh. Printer paper's good enough for that one.

... covered by what is most likely not NAVAIR-approved scotch tape.

 

[Gatordev]

Our PCLs are (when new) still just printed card stock, which when you think about it, makes the PCL completely non-NAVAIR compliant. Not only will it immediately combust, it will then melt hot plastic all over you. We should probably just stop flying with them at this point. See also: NFM, which is also located in the aircraft.

ORM complete.

 

[Jim123]

Somebody put Gatordev in for an MSM for his innovative way of saving the flight hour program.