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January 12, 2010 - Airline passengers now have additional options when
it comes to oxygen concentrators. “This is our latest step toward making
air travel more accessible for people who need medical oxygen,” said FAA
Administrator Randy Babbitt. “We want these passengers to have as many
options as possible while ensuring all of our safety guidelines are
being met.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced passengers needing
medical oxygen now have the option of using four additional portable
oxygen concentrators while traveling, bringing the total number of
approved units to 11.
The newly authorized devices are DeVilbiss Healthcare’s iGo,
International Biophysics Corporation’s LifeChoice, Inogen’s Inogen One
G2 and Oxlife’s Independence Oxygen Concentrator.
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The Department of Transportation requires that U.S. carriers allow
passengers to use portable oxygen concentrators approved by the FAA
during all phases of a flight – including taxiing, takeoff and landing –
if the unit displays a manufacturer’s label that indicates it meets FAA
requirements for portable medical electronic devices, is properly
stowed, and meets certain other applicable safety-related conditions.
For example, passengers must ensure the unit is in good working order
and must be able to respond to the unit’s warning alarms. They must
protect extra batteries in carry-on baggage from short circuits and
physical damage. Carriers also must let passengers operate these
FAA-approved concentrators while moving about the cabin whenever the
captain turns off the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign. |
Carriers can legally refuse to allow inflight use of an FAA-approved
portable oxygen concentrator that does not have a manufacturer’s label
indicating that the device complies with FAA requirements. However, the
Department encourages airlines to voluntarily allow the inflight use of
such devices. Inflight use of an FAA-approved portable oxygen
concentrator, whether labeled or not, poses no safety danger so long as
carriage of the device is in accordance with instructions provided by
the FAA.
The FAA previously
approved these portable oxygen concentrators for use:
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Invacare XPO2
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AirSep Lifestyle
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AirSep Freestyle
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Inogen One
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SeQual Eclipse • Respironics EverGo |
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