Portable Oxygen Systems

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Boatguy
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by Boatguy »

Tesla: Depending on your local cost of electricity, it's in the range of $.02 - $.05 / mile.

I strap the O2 bottle, in the case that comes from MH, to the right passenger seat with the shoulder harness. I've gone through turbulence sufficient to bounce my head off the overhead and the bottle has never moved.

I wedge the controller in between the seats about 3" above the center "console", facing aft (higher than in this photo). The hoses connect aft, headset cables run underneath it, and I can reach the on/off knob on the controller.

We use the boom cannulas which are difficult to connect/disconnect to the ball mount on your headset (and threaten to pull the ball off the headset). They are much more comfortable in flight. To get around the connect/disconnect problem, I added the "quick disconnect" adapters to the hoses and cut them quite close to the cannula. Now I just disconnect the hoses and leave the cannula on my headset, rotated up out of the way so when I'm not using O2 I don't even know it's there.
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Rich
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by Rich »

Boatguy wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 5:43 pm We use the boom cannulas which are difficult to connect/disconnect to the ball mount on your headset (and threaten to pull the ball off the headset).
This concerned me too. But I found that by backing the thumbscrew well out (tip flush with the far end) I could put a screwdriver bit from a leatherman type tool into the slot, give it a slight twist while holding the cannula piece and it comes right off with no resistance and no risk to removing the ball.
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Blueskieswinds@6
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by Blueskieswinds@6 »

I recently learned that if you have your primary care physician write you a prescription for medical oxygen, you can get it filled dirt cheap. My doctor wrote my prescription as follows: Oxygen to be used for all flights above 12,500'. This way the prescription clearly states I do not need oxygen in general, however when flying above 12,500 I am covered and therefore qualified to purchase medical oxygen refills as needed at the very low cost. Why not use it for all longer flights and various altitudes?

I was previously paying between $40-80 to have my small 14 CU FT oxygen tank refilled at some FBO's. Now, I simply pull it from my plane and take it to Healthline Medical in Dallas and they charge me $15 regardless if the tank is 14 CU or 24 CU. To make matters worse, I wish I had not spent the $160 for the Aerox 14 CU tank because healthline just gave me the tank for lease but you don't pay a lease fee you simply pay the $15 to get filled/refilled.

As a result of $15 refills on a 28 CU tank, I started using oxygen on all flights over 8,000' now instead of 12.5k' since 28 CU FT last me and my wife for 24 hours of use or 48 hours when I fly by myself. Essentially I have cut my oxygen expenses down to $30/yr even if I fly every flight on oxygen... Hope you find this tip useful!
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by chili4way »

This is a great tip! Any issues with the valve on the "leased tank" provided by Healthline (or other medical O2 providers)? Aviation tanks in the US typically have CGA 540 connections and at least some medical tanks have GCA 870 connections. Cheapest I've found in the area is $40 at McKinney (KTKI) and a whole lot more at an FBO. I haven't tried a welding supply yet, but this beats that with the opportunity for a higher-capacity tank.
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cptndavid
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by cptndavid »

I may try the scrip route , medicare may cover the cost of refill and tank rental. My tank is located behind the left rear pax seat. I bolted an 1/8" aluminium plate to the under side of the package cover and a tank mount o ring to the plate. the tank is mounted flat.
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Steve
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by Steve »

cptndavid wrote: Mon May 17, 2021 2:36 pm I may try the scrip route , medicare may cover the cost of refill and tank rental.
Usually, for Medicare (or any other insurance) to cover, it would require a diagnosis code that has O2 as an approved therapy (COPD, CHF, etc.). I doubt that your physician would put a non-diagnosed code on your record to get the insurance to cover, and even if he wanted to risk a Medicare audit, you don't want a false diagnosis on your medical records which the FAA could use to limit your eligibility for a medical certificate...
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cptndavid
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by cptndavid »

Too True.
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Rich
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by Rich »

Speaking of refills, it would seem to be prudent to have one or more of the adapters available for fill ups. MH sells a couple of types. What's been everyone's experience?
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cptndavid
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by cptndavid »

My welding supplier has the adapters on hand. The shop is in Lakewood ,N.J.
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Rich
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Re: Portable Oxygen Systems

Post by Rich »

As far as local options for refills go I can go to my regular (mom & pop) shop - he charges $40. Or I can drive over to KRDM and MH will refill for free. I plan to primarily use my regular shop. He does quite a number of off-book things that help me out.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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