Altitude Chamber Training

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MotoHawk

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MotoHawk
Hi all,

I live in Washington State, and have been looking into getting real hypoxia training using an altitude chamber (not too interested in the breathing device options out there). First I looked into the my local Federal Aviation Administration office in Oklahoma City, but the free course books up incredibly fast. Next I looked into the military, but they deny training to civies when commercial options exist. Only other option I found available was Embry Riddle, but their course is on the other side of the country.

Anyone find other ways to get hypoxia training in the NW besides climbing Mt Rainier? I was wondering if Alaska Airlines offered anything to the public? :dunno:
 
The FAA is your best option. Even for the military there are only a handful of altitude chambers across the country and because we have to go to the chamber every few years, they are always busy. The one at ERAU doesn't even simulate a change in atmospheric pressure, if just removes the oxygen from the room.
 
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I know UND has an altitude chamber. Idk who, besides students, they let use it and it is most likely the same as ERAU's.
 
MotoHawk said:
Hi all,

I live in Washington State, and have been looking into getting real hypoxia training using an altitude chamber (not too interested in the breathing device options out there). First I looked into the my local Federal Aviation Administration office in Oklahoma City, but the free course books up incredibly fast. Next I looked into the military, but they deny training to civies when commercial options exist. Only other option I found available was Embry Riddle, but their course is on the other side of the country.

Anyone find other ways to get hypoxia training in the NW besides climbing Mt Rainier? I was wondering if Alaska Airlines offered anything to the public? :dunno:
Click to expand...

When I flew out of Boeing Field we took courses at NAS Whidbey and Fairchild AFB (Spokane). This was not on an individual basis, though...it was all of the 135 pilots who flew for the company that set it up through the FSDO.

Bob Gardner
 
I just did my refresher at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs- you might call and ask for the Aerospace Medicine Clinic or Aerospace Physiology. It's definitely worthwhile training.
 
Gucci Pilot said:
. The one at ERAU doesn't even simulate a change in atmospheric pressure, if just removes the oxygen from the room.
Click to expand...


That's nice. I would choose that.

I had some eardrum damage when I did NASA's altitude chamber.

It's no problem when they suck the air out, but when they repressurize some people like me cannot rapidly adjust.
 
AcroBoy said:
I just did my refresher at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs- you might call and ask for the Aerospace Medicine Clinic or Aerospace Physiology. It's definitely worthwhile training.
Click to expand...

I tried a similar scenario with Fair Child AFB, and after talking to some Commanders in Pensacola I was told it was a no go.

Are you military? What kind of refresher training were you going for?
 
NoHeat said:
That's nice. I would choose that.

I had some eardrum damage when I did NASA's altitude chamber.

It's no problem when they suck the air out, but when they repressurize some people like me cannot rapidly adjust.
Click to expand...

I would certainly like to know that my body doesn't easily adjust to rapid re-pressurization than not. Although eardrum damage doesn't sound too good.

and hey is that a K1200 LT in your photo? I just bought a K1200S :goofy:
 
MotoHawk said:
I tried a similar scenario with Fair Child AFB, and after talking to some Commanders in Pensacola I was told it was a no go.

Are you military? What kind of refresher training were you going for?
Click to expand...

Yes military. I think I was eligible to opt out of the chamber ride, but really wanted to do it since I also fly as a civilian and wanted to be able to recognize hypoxia. It can be very subtle.

The commander of the chamber said they were pretty tight on the schedule, especially being near the AFA. Good luck.
 
I usually just go into a meeting at work. There is typically someone who will just suck all of the air out of the room. :D
 
FWIW the Navy and the Marine Corps only use an actual chamber during initial training. After that you jump in the sim and put on your mask and they slowly bring your O2 saturation down using nitrogen while you're flying so you can notice a degradation in performance. I think that is better than the chamber that you want to do.
 
Its been a while, but I did mine at Langley in the full chamber with loss of pressurization. Only requirement was a PPL.
 
The Seattle Glider Council arranged to do it a Fairchild Airforce base about 10 years ago. I highly recommend it if it is available. Maybe things have changed since then. Let me know if you find out how to do It I know a few other pilots that would like to go through it as well.

I will check my sources to see if I can find a contact for you.

Brian
 
Speak to your local FAAST Team leader.

In the past, our local FAAST Team had the OKC medical folk to bring the Portable Reduced Oxygen Training Environment (PROTE) to our area. I took advantage of the seminar and experience in the chamber and found it fascinating and very educational.

Some additional information can be found here: https://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/physiologc.pdf

If your FAAST Team Leader can get enough local pilots interested and committed, he or she can help facilitate the training that you're seeking.
 
My contacts gave me the information below, I am told Fairchild no longer offers civilian High Altitude training. If interested in the program below, PM me I do have a contact email for the program below.

Brian

http://www.sfu.ca/empu/indoctrination_program.html

Sherri said: "The program is usually booked by flight clubs, airlines and schools and sometimes there are open spots for individuals to join in on their bookings. We charge at a per chamber run rate and the chamber can accommodate up to 6 people per run. If you are a member of a flying club this is often a good way to find others interested in sharing the booking. I have attached our rate sheet for your reference. If you have specific questions please do not hesitate to ask."

Rate sheet is below:
--

HIGH ALTITUDE INDOCTRINATION DETAILED PRICE BREAKDOWN

NO. STUDENTS 1-6 7-12 13-18

TOTAL 1,800 2,400 2,880

COST/STUDENT 300 200 160

(FULL FLIGHT MULTIPLE)
 
Arizona State University has an altitude chamber at IWA.

I did the course there and it was great. Most others in the class were airline pilots, and a couple guys from Virgin Galactic...
 
Our instructor actually did some of the training/suit testing for that Google guy who did the high altitude skydive.

They can simulate 100,000ft + in their chamber and rapid decompression.

The facility is located at an airport. Supposedly, they had a medical helicopter based nearby and a code word established with the tower in the event something went wrong. They'd fire up the helo, and broadcast the code word to the tower and everything would be vectored out of the chopper's way.
 
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