Brings Number Of Approved Devices To 21

There’s good news for airline passengers who need to use medical oxygen. The FAA has approved seven additional portable oxygen concentrator models for use aboard airplanes, bringing the total number of approved units to 21. The newly authorized devices are the AirSep Focus, AirSep FreeStyle 5, Inogen One G3, Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox, Respironics Simply Go, Precision Medical EasyPulse, and the SeQual SAROS.

Portable oxygen concentrators are small, portable devices that separate oxygen from nitrogen and other gases in the air and provide oxygen to users at greater than 90 percent concentration. They do not use compressed or liquid oxygen, which the government classifies as hazardous material.

The DOT requires that U.S. airlines and foreign air carriers flying into the United States allow passengers to use portable oxygen concentrators approved by the FAA during all phases of a flight if the unit displays a manufacturer’s label that indicates it meets FAA requirements for portable medical electronic devices. The Department strongly encourages airlines to voluntarily allow the in-flight use of oxygen concentrators even if not labeled as FAA-approved because they pose no safety danger.

Passengers must ensure the unit is in good working order and must be able to respond to the unit’s warning alarms. They must protect extra batteries in carry-on baggage from short circuits and physical damage. The unit must be properly stowed when not in use. Carriers also must let passengers operate these FAA-approved concentrators while moving about the cabin whenever the captain turns off the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign.

The FAA is pursuing performance-based standards that will apply to all oxygen concentrator manufacturers and models. The agency intends to publish a notice in the Federal Register and offer the public a chance to comment on the proposal when it is complete.

FMI: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-10-16/pdf/2012-25412.pdf