Oxygen Usage in General Aviation

Private and business aircraft are the largest group of aircraft flying over our land. Private pilots and passengers are a very large and very important group of individuals in our economy and society. Cruising altitudes and service ceilings are steadily increasing, with a corresponding increase in the danger of hypoxia. Hypoxic pilots are a menace to themselves and other aircraft. Hypoxic passengers as well as pilots can suffer severe after-effects from exposure to hypoxia. The installation of oxygen equipment need not unduly penalize the aircraft weight-wise nor the owner cost-wise. To improve flight safety and to protect the health of those who travel in such aircraft, oxygen equipment should be made available, and its use encouraged, in private and corporate aircraft.