May 08, 2008
A new ruling by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to accept certain approved portable oxygen concentrators onboard flights.

The new rule will make it easier for passengers to use medical oxygen during flights by requiring airlines to allow the use of portable oxygen concentrators in the passenger cabin. Approved concentrators must meet safety, security and hazardous materials requirements for safe use aboard aircraft.

Concentrators approved by the DOT that patients may carry aboard aircraft are AirSep FreeStyle, AirSep LifeStyle, Inogen One, Respironics EverGo, and Sequal Eclipse.

The American Association for Respiratory Care joined with other groups in the Airline Oxygen Council of America (AOCA) which spearheaded the effort to ease access to medical oxygen for passengers.  John W. Walsh, well known respiratory patient advocate and President of the COPD Foundation welcomed the news by saying, “We are pleased that the Airline Oxygen Council of America has helped facilitate this victory for oxygen patients everywhere.”

The rule will apply to U.S. air carriers worldwide and to foreign air carriers whose flights begin or end in the U.S.  The new rule takes effect in one year to give airlines time to implement the regulation. You can read the final rule at www.regulations.gov, docket number DOT-OST-2004-19482.