What You Need To Know About Flying with Portable Oxygen Concentrators According to Air Carrier Access Act, air carriers in the US are obliged to accommodate passengers with medical disabilities, but there is no regulation that requires flights to provide oxygen during flights. Airlines may however allow passengers to carry portable medical oxygen concentrator as explained under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In case you require supplemental medical oxygen in your air ambulance, you need to make sure that your portable oxygen concentrator is on the list approved by FAA and is published in SFAR 106.
Use of Portable Oxygen Concentrator Nearly all air ambulance providers demand a notification from the patients requiring portable oxygen for travel at least 48 hours before the flight. In case you wish to bring POC onto the airplane, you are required to furnish a copy of your physician’s statement to the respective service provider well in advance. Also check with your air ambulance service provider whether you need to fill in a separate form. Most air transporters demand the statement to be written on doctor’s letterhead. The statement issued by the physician should include the following information:
Description of your oxygen requirements are a must
The statement should clearly mention your ability to see, hear and respond to the warning signs on your POC.
It should also state the maximum oxygen flow rates required while travelling.
Powering Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator Majority of the air carriers do not allow plugging in of portable oxygen medical equipment into the electrical system of the airplane. So you are required to plan ahead and bring along sufficient batteries well in advance for powering up your POC throughout the flight. You should be careful to pack in extra batteries in your carry luggage.
Renting Portable Oxygen Concentrators In case your POC does not rank in the list approved by FAA and you wish to carry it along for using it upon reaching your destination, you can easy rent FAA approved POC to be used in the flight.
Bottom Line The secret for successful travel with portable oxygen is advance planning. When you are researching for suitable air ambulance services, carefully go through individual service providers’ POC requirements. Notify your service provider about the use of POC well in advance, at least 48 hours before you travel.
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