Advanced In-Flight Rebreather

Flight crews require supplemental oxygen for emergency high cabin altitude operations. Some flight crews require a walk-around oxygen supply to move freely throughout the cabin until the altitude is reduced to a safe level. Current low-pressure bottles cannot supply oxygen for an adequate duration in an acceptable cylinder size, and multiple cylinders would be required to meet the mission requirements, adversely impacting logistical and safety issues. Rebreather technology offers the potential to meet the need with a compact system and minimal oxygen storage requirements. Although rebreather technology has been applied successfully to diving and some land-based applications for many years, a high-altitude, walk around system presents new challenges. On the proposed project we will develop innovative technology to adapt rebreathers for in-flight use. In Phase I, we will determine appropriate specifications for an aviation rebreather and conduct proof-of-concept tests to demonstrate the promise of individual technologies or devices needed to meet the requirements for an aviation rebreather. In Phase II we will integrate these advanced technologies into a complete rebreather system.