Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the blood, tissues, and cells sufficient to cause an impairment of body functions. Anything that impedes the arrival or utilization of oxygen to the cell places the body in a hypoxic state. All cells require oxygen to function. The central nervous system (made up of the brain and spinal cord) demands a great deal of oxygen (approximately 20 percent of all oxygen that you inhale feeds the brain). If the oxygen supply to the body is reduced, the brain will be one of the first organs to be affected, with the higher reasoning portions of the brain showing degraded function first. This means that judgment and cognitive skills diminish from the very start. There are many conditions that can interrupt the normal flow of oxygen to the cells.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)

The cause of this type of hypoxia is an insufficient partial pressure of oxygen in the inhaled air resulting from reduced oxygen pressure in the atmosphere at altitude. Altitude hypoxia poses the greatest potential physiological hazard to a flight crew member when at altitude. Supplemental oxygen will combat hypoxic hypoxia within seconds. Check your oxygen systems periodically to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen and that the system is functioning properly. Perform this check frequently with increasing altitude. If supplemental oxygen is not available, initiate an emergency descent to an altitude below 10,000 ft MSL.

WARNING: If hypoxia is suspected, immediately don oxygen mask and breathe 100 percent oxygen slowly. Descend to a safe altitude. If supplemental oxygen is not available, initiate an emergency descent to an altitude below 10,000 ft MSL. If symptoms persist, land as soon as possible.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)(a)

This type of hypoxia is defined as a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Hypemic hypoxia is caused by a reduction in circulating red blood cells (anemia) or contamination of blood with gases other than oxygen.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)(b)

This is a less common form of hypoxia. It is due to inadequate blood flow to the tissues. Causes include heart failure, shock, prolonged positive pressure breathing, and excessive G-forces.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)(c)

This is the inability of the body’s cells to use oxygen because of impaired cellular respiration. Alcohol or drug use can cause this type of hypoxia. The only method of avoiding this type of hypoxia is to abstain, before flight, from alcohol or drugs that are not approved by a flight surgeon or an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)(d)

1. Signs of hypoxia can be detected in an individual by an observer. Signs aren’t a very effective tool for hypoxic individuals to use to recognize hypoxia in themselves. Symptoms of hypoxia are the sensations a person can detect while in a hypoxic state. Personal symptoms of hypoxia are as individual as the person experiencing them. A group of people who are hypoxic will, a majority of the time, get the same symptoms. However, the symptoms will appear in a different order and in varying intensities. The greatest benefit in hypoxia training in an altitude chamber is that the order and the intensity of your symptoms will usually remain constant over the years. Therefore, familiarity with one’s own hypoxia “signature” will facilitate the recognition of a hypoxic state during flight.

Signs	Symptoms
Rapid Breathing	Air Hunger
Cyanosis (bluing effect of the skin)	Fatigue
Poor Coordination	Nausea
Lethargy	Headache
Executing Poor Judgment	Dizziness
Sweating	Tingling
Trembling	Visual Impairment
Myoclonic (Muscle) Spasms	Euphoria

2. Of the listed symptoms, visual impairment is probably the least reliable. Your visual field will be affected, but at such a slow rate that it could go unnoticed. Generally, symptoms will appear before unconsciousness occurs. Except for possible headache and nausea, there are no other uncomfortable symptoms. Of all the symptoms, euphoria (a false sense of well-being) is probably the most dangerous. Furthermore, in most cases, hypoxia onset is very insidious. Any preoccupation with flying duties could be enough of a distraction to allow the hypoxia to progress beyond the point of self-help.

WARNING: A common misconception among pilots is that it is easy to recognize the symptoms of hypoxia and to take corrective action before becoming seriously impaired. While this concept may be appealing in theory, it is both misleading and dangerous for crewmembers.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)(e)

3. While other significant effects of hypoxia usually do not occur in a healthy pilot in an unpressurized aircraft below 12,000 ft MSL, there is no assurance that this will always be the case. Furthermore, the altitude range of impairment due to hypoxia is best described as a continuum; there is no definitive altitude at which the effects of hypoxia begin or end. To mitigate the risk associated with these variations, if hypoxia is suspected, a descent to altitudes below 10,000 ft MSL is recommended.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.d.(2)(e)

Although a deterioration in night vision occurs at a cabin pressure altitude as low as 5,000 feet, other significant effects of altitude hypoxia usually do not occur in the normal healthy pilot below 12,000 feet. From 12,000 to 15,000 feet of altitude, judgment, memory, alertness, coordination and ability to make calculations are impaired, and headache, drowsiness, dizziness and either a sense of well-being (euphoria) or belligerence occur. The effects appear following increasingly shorter periods of exposure to increasing altitude. In fact, pilot performance can seriously deteriorate within 15 minutes at 15,000 feet.

Source: Aeronautical Information Publication, ¶8-1-2.a.2.

At cabin pressure altitudes above 15,000 feet, the periphery of the visual field grays out to a point where only central vision remains (tunnel vision). A blue coloration (cyanosis) of the fingernails and lips develops. The ability to take corrective and protective action is lost in 20 to 30 minutes at 18,000 feet and 5 to 12 minutes at 20,000 feet, followed soon thereafter by unconsciousness.

Source: Aeronautical Information Publication, ¶8-1-2.a.3.

Rapid loss of aircraft pressurization dramatically reduces TUC. As a general rule, it can be assumed that the TUC following decompression to altitudes between 25,000 ft and 43,000 ft will be reduced by 50 percent. Above 43,000 ft, the TUC is reduced to the time it takes for the blood to circulate from the lung to the brain, plus any reserve oxygen stored in the brain. This is approximately 9–12 s from the start of a rapid decompression to the loss of functional capability. In some cases, hypoxia exposure can lead to a shock type reaction that could further reduce the TUC.

Source: AC 61-107B, ¶2-7.e.(3)(a)