Washington
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a regulation
that could alleviate air travel headaches for those using portable
oxygen concentrators. “The FAA has been made aware of the
critical need for improved service to passengers who must travel
with oxygen while on aircraft,” the agency stated in a
proposal published in the Federal Register July 14.
The rule proposes use of Buffalo, N.Y.-based AirSep's LifeStyle
portable oxygen concentrator on planes because, at present,
“this is the only device of this type the FAA has evaluated
and determined to be safe.” The agency said it is continuing
to evaluate Goleta, Calif.-based Inogen's Inogen One, and that
“other devices may be added … after the FAA has been
satisfied that they can be safely used on board
aircraft.”
“Under current standards, it's very difficult for someone
on oxygen to travel by plane. If there are delays or layovers,
where do they get their oxygen? They have issues getting through
security. If they can't take it on board, what do they do?”
questions Joe Priest, AirSep president and COO, adding that the FAA
proposal regarding portable oxygen use “is dead-on in regard
to the best solution for patients, the best solution for home care
providers and the best solution for the airline
industry.”
In addition to the proposed rule, the FAA said it will make an
“independent determination whether the devices pose a hazard
in aviation.”
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of the home medical equipment industry.
