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After many, many years flying with an O2 mask stuck to my face, here is my 2 cents on this topic.
The effects of hypoxia are not static. Everything changes; we age, drink, smoke, forget to exercise, etc, etc. I have been thru the altitude chamber several times and while the outcome each time was similar; there were subtle differences on each occasion.. Therefore, I cant say with any degree of certainty how I will react without O2 on any given day, altho I do suspect that my behavior is a function of the altitude I'm at, when the O2 quits.
Cabin pressure is a variable that we can change, just by turning a dial. It is also a function of how well our door seal works, how well our pressure vessel seals, and how many windows we have intact. The only thing that is constant is the danger of O2 loss, which as we all know, can be fatal.
Anytime I operate in the flight levels, I consider emergency O2 mandatory. PERIOD. No if, and, or buts. At the first sign of a problem, Get the mask on, Get the O2 flowing, Then fly the plane, Navigate, and Communicate. The O2 insures that you will be awake to consider all the factors of your problem. Without the O2, its strictly a guessing game.
It has been my experience that problems in aircraft never seem to happen alone. One thing always seem to lead to another. O2 improves visual acquity. O2 improves mental acquity and I think to some degree, that it also improves physical acquity. Doesnt it seem logical to have all these pluses on your side. Why go without them? Regards, Bill Hogarty
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