O2 question

Peter_Paul wrote:

for refilling can it be done with a diving air compressor

You need pure oxygen, @Peter_Paul
Diving schools that offer “technical diving” (rebreather systems) have it.

As europaxs stated: You can fly higher than FL100 in Germany but you need to obtain a clearance.
I don’t know if they generally allow VFR traffic in Class C airspace above FL100.

I’m not sure how useful oxygen is for VFR flight outside the Alps region. Personally I don’t know any VFR pilot that do cross country flying VFR on oxygen.

Peter_Paul wrote:

for refilling can it be done with a diving air compressor or does it need to be medical O2

Pure O2

Vladimir wrote:

Do you have links to the parts you are mentioning so that we can see what they look like and maybe what they cost approximately?

This is what I got:
Description: (2) EDS-O2D2-2G with CFFC-048 carbon fiber cylinder and FPR-540 regulator.

Personally I don’t know any VFR pilot that do cross country flying VFR on oxygen.

I suppose one reason is that airspace clearance isn’t guaranteed under VFR. So you can spend 30 minutes climbing up and then when you go to transit some airspace, it’s denied and you’re left orbiting in a descent to get below that airspace. Probably don’t that often denied at such altitudes though.

This can be more of a problem in the UK, where there are plenty of Class A airways where you can’t even request a transit through them, so you’ve no choice be desend again.

Aviathor wrote:

This is what I got:
Description: (2) EDS-O2D2-2G with CFFC-048 carbon fiber cylinder and FPR-540 regulator.

So you got a kit withe everything in it? Do you have to add some parts or does it really have all you need?

No problem flying VFR + FL100 in Germany, I do it all the time, like when I fly home from CZ and can’t get on top below FL100. All you need is a clearance, and away from the big hubs you always get it, at least I always did.

I have the portable MH system in the Cirrus plus one O2D2. It is all you will need, and with the O2D2 even the small bottle lasts a long time if it’s for two people. You also need a good Pulsoximeter, you can get those on ebay and amazon for little money, they’re just as good as the ones from the pilot shop …

Flyer59 wrote:

All you need is a clearance, and away from the big hubs you always get it, at least I always did

Even when crossing the Frankfurt TMA they’ll often rather have you >FL100 than at or below FL100. But of course in such a busy airspace a clearance is all but guaranteed, I guess even when flying IFR.

BTW I use the MH O2D2 with a 2 Liter aluminum cylinder and this lasts for several hours in the mid teen FL, even with 2 POB.

europaxs wrote:

I guess even when flying IFR.

IFR you don’t get clearances for each controlled airspace you’re crossing.
Instead you get a “Cleared to destination” at the beginning of the flight.

You’ll get an error if you try to file a flightplan below FL140 over Frankfurt.

lenthamen wrote:

IFR you don’t get clearances for each controlled airspace you’re crossing. Instead you get a “Cleared to destination” at the beginning of the flight.

Peter_Paul wrote:

the few times I tried to get clearance I had no luck

I wonder where and why you got denied? After all, that airspace is by and large an empty void at those levels – apart from some TMAs, of course.

lenthamen wrote:

Personally I don’t know any VFR pilot that do cross country flying VFR on oxygen.

That is incorrect, you know me. Granted, I don’t do it “all the time”, but when the mission requires it, why would I not use oxygen? Has nothing to do with flight rules. Crossing Frankfurt is one example (unless you want to fly an annoying low-level detour with annoyingly smallish corridors of terrain/airspace in some areas), crossing the Alps another, crossing water bodies another (if you want more glide range).

Out of four requests to cross Frankfurt that I’ve witnessed or flown myself, three have been granted and for the fourth, ATC did their best to accommodate us (@europaxs flying), but it was just too busy so they called us back with a denial after checking.

Welders oxygen is no different than oxygen from a medical supply or that sold at an FBO if you want to save money.