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George Braly wrote:
>2) Is something else going on so that this rather large group of folks who
> are flying around with 78 to 83% SaO2 are still alive to tell about it?

There is a much bigger group of folks who routinely drive drunk and live to tell about it.  SaO2 of 78% and blood alcohol level of 0.1% do not guarantee that you will be killed next time you go out, it just guarantees that your judgment, analytical and motor skills will be adversely affected.  You can go quite a while before before you run into a situation where you need to draw upon the abilities that have been compromised.  Until then, all is well and it leads to arguments like "I don't buy the BS about SaO2 and BAL.  I have been doing this for xx years and never had a problem."  Unless you are really lucky, the first time you have a serious problem is your last time also.

Unlike blood alcohol level which can be determined after an accident, the SaO2 can not be determined after an accident.  How many accidents that are classified as "pilot error" are actually caused due to impaired judgment secondary to a low SaO2?  I doubt if anyone knows or can know.

Hamid

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