Oxygen Tank on Flight

Q: My wife uses an oxygen concentrator for half of the day, to obtain supplemental oxygen. She has permission from her doctor to fly. We would like to fly from Cape Town to Germany and might want to use the portable concentrator (2kg including batteries). We would like to know what facilities the airlines have for using a concentrator directly from a plug at the seat, or for recharging the batteries, and what conditions / restrictions they may have. - Bob Cameron

A: Based on replies from a selection of airlines, it does not appear that you will have a problem using the concentrator on flights. The German carrier Lufthansa permits the use of oxygen or air cyclinders with a maximum capacity of two litres and 200 bar pressure. The equipment can be used on all aircraft except on flights to and from the Unites States, Canada and Mexico. One condition is that any device should be carried in manufacturer-approved outer packaging. The device must work with own batteries. The usage of aircraft power is not allowed and additional batteries must be gel batteries. British Airways allows its passengers to use portable oxygen concentrators on board, but they need to advise the airline in advance and their doctor needs to complete a medical clearance form (downloadable from ba.com). The concentrator must be dry-cell battery powered. Unfortunately there are no re-charging facilities on board. British Airways customers with medical conditions can pre-arrange for supplementary oxygen to be provided on board. Air France also allows the use of personal concentrators on board (along with other ventilation, respiration and sleep apnea devices). The devices must be known to Air France or be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or a similar body. The passenger needs to have the number of batteries necessary to allow the equipment to operate for the duration of the flight plus another 50 percent. Air France does not require medical clearance, but the devices are considered hand baggage and must be placed under the seat. Sleep apnea devices should not emit sounds louder than 70 decibels. Passengers on the Dutch airline KLM need to request permission to take a personal oxygen concentrator at least 48 hours prior to departure. The device needs to be one pre-approved by the airline and the passenger to needs to provide medical information about the need for oxygen and other operating conditions of the device. The passenger needs to bring batteries covering the duration of the flight and possible delays. Finally, Middle Eastern airline Etihad says passengers wanting to use portable oxygen concentrators on board need to obtain medical clearance for travel and request the service from the airline at least 72 hours prior to departure. Eithad also provides oxygen on board, which is compatible with a wide range of medical equipment. (7/11/10)