Patient Airlift Services (PALS) in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administrtion recently hosted the Portable Reduced Oxygen Training Enclosure (PROTE) Hypoxia training at the American Airpower Museum at republic Airport for a week.
Jen Hotsko of PALS, and Ben Struck of the FAA were on hand to welcome pilots from the area to this important seminar. Normally held in Oklahoma, this was the first time in recent years the PROTE training was held in the Notheast and the first time in the area. It was open free of charge to all PALS pilots as well as the general aviation community free-of-charge for all wishing ng to be aware of the dangers of this Hypoxia threat.
Aerospace Physiologist J.R.Brown of the FAA interacted with pilots to simulate Hypoxia in the portable hypobaric chamber that he brings to seminars like this around the country. Hypoxia is a condition from a deficiency of oxygen that can affect un-pressurized aircraft fling over 7,000 feet. This condition creates a sense of dizziness, sluggishness and possible black-out if not addressed quickly. Brown is part of the CAMI, (Civil Aerospace Medical Institute) which takes the training booth on tour around the country.
The safety seminar featured a simulated experience through a pressurized transparent box where the pressure can be controlled by technicians of the program exposing individuals to lack of oxygen in a simulated environment where they could fee actual effects. One pilot said he may have been affected in the chamber and said he “never felt the symptoms. This was a good reason for him to the training he said. Another pilot said he wanted to know what the symptoms felt like so he would know what to do if he was affected by this condition. He said the effect hit him like a roller-coaster ride. Yet another plot said he was scared ow what might happen if he succumbed while flying.
According to Struck the FAA does this training in ten locations a year throughout the US. At this Long island location, total of 200 pilots came to the seminar. Many of them were appreciative of the FAA bringing the experience to their area airport.
