FAA Didn’t Go Far Enough for Oxygen Users

July 12, 2005: The FAA issued a final ruling allowing the use of portable oxygen concentrators (POC) aboard commercial aircraft. The FAA stopped short of mandating the airlines allow passengers to use portable oxygen concentrators on-board aircraft.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities. While I’ll leave the relevance of the ADA in relation to air travel with oxygen to the attorneys, common sense tells me that oxygen dependant persons should have access to all commercial flights within the USA.
While many airlines are allowing POCs aboard their aircraft, some significant carriers, United and Jet Blue to name a couple, do not allow the use of POCs. Considering that the FAA doesn’t classify POCs as hazardous material (compressed gaseous oxygen & liquid oxygen are considered hazardous material) there seems little justification to limit the equal access of persons on oxygen therapy.
Persons interested in seeing the FAA change the ruling to mandate airlines allow the use of portable oxygen concentrators have a number of tools at their disposal. First, contact your U.S. Representative and Senators and make your voice heard. Several associations are involved at various levels as well;

• National Home Oxygen Patients Association
• American Thoracic Society
• American Lung Asssociation
• Airline Oxygen Council of America

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