Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 15

HOW IT WORKS

BY JILL W. TALLMAN

PULSE OXIMETER
HOW'S YOUR O2?

STEVE KARP

THE CABINS OF MOST PISTON AIRPLANES

are not pressurized. No conditioned air is
pumped into the airplane to create a safe
and comfortable environment for you and
your flight instructor, or your passengers.
Therefore, when you fly above certain
altitudes where the air becomes thinner,
you may need supplemental oxygen. Part
91 of the federal aviation regulations
stipulates required flight crew (that's you)
must use supplemental oxygen for any
portion of a flight that exceeds 30 minutes
above a cabin pressure altitude of 12,500
feet mean sea level, up to and including
14,000 feet msl. The flight crew must
use supplemental oxygen for the entire
duration of flight operations above a cabin
pressure altitude of 14,000 feet msl. The
FAA recommends using supplemental
oxygen whenever you're flying above
10,000 feet msl.
Sometimes a pilot may feel the effects
of oxygen deprivation when flying below
the altitude at which supplemental oxygen is required. This is especially true of
pilots who are used to operating at lower
elevations, or older pilots, or smokers.
A pulse oximeter is a convenient way
to determine the saturation of oxygen
in your blood, and you can easily use it
even while flying. The small, lightweight
clip-on device attaches to your finger.
It shoots small beams of light through
the blood in your finger, and it measures
the amount of oxygen. "It does this by
measuring changes of light absorption
in oxygenated or deoxygenated blood,"
according to Healthline.com.
After several seconds, you'll see a
readout of your oxygen saturation level. A
level of 95 percent is considered normal
for most healthy individuals, and anything
below 92 percent indicates the possibility
of hypoxia, which means oxygen isn't
reaching all the tissues in your body. Time
to get on the supplemental oxygen or
descend to a lower altitude-or both.

Light-emitting diodes

Light detector

jill.tallman@aopa.org

AOPA.ORG/FT  15



http://www.Healthline.com http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT

Flight Training - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - September/October 2020

Contents
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - Intro
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - Cover1
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - Cover2
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - Contents
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 2
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 3
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 4
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 5
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 6
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 7
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 8
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 9
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 10
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 11
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 12
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 13
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 14
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 15
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 16
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 17
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 18
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 19
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 20
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 21
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 22
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 23
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 24
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 25
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 26
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 27
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 28
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 29
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 30
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 31
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 32
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 33
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 34
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 35
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 36
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 37
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 38
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 39
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 40
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 41
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 42
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 43
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 44
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 45
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 46
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 47
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 48
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 49
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 50
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 51
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 52
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 53
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 54
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 55
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - 56
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - Cover3
Flight Training - September/October 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com