Where to go for an altitude chamber?

[HeyEng]

Depending on the type of ride, the chamber will go to somewhere between 18,000 - 25,000 ft (in my experience). Once the chamber reaches the target altitude, you'll be asked to remove your O2 mask and do a variety of motor skills exercises. The instructions you generally receive are to go back on oxygen at the first signs of hypoxia. I disagree. I think you should stay off O2 and explore the effects hypoxia has on you so you have a better understanding of what to expect in a real situation. There are folks in the chamber who will attend to you if you need, and it's a controlled environment; so use it to your advantage.
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Some of the best training ever. When I first did it, they would take us to 35,000 but I understand that the highest they go is 25,000 now (in the AF anyway). I can tell you that I don't remember much of anything at the 35,000 altitude....it was just THAT FAST!!!! Watching others in there as we came off the mask one at a time was an amazing thing to watch. You get the same effects at 25,000, it just takes a little longer. If I remember, the 35,000 foot deal, your "time of useful consciousness" was about 30 seconds, but I swear it seemed like it was 5 seconds!!!

 

[germb747]

Some of the best training ever. When I first did it, they would take us to 35,000 but I understand that the highest they go is 25,000 now (in the AF anyway). I can tell you that I don't remember much of anything at the 35,000 altitude....it was just THAT FAST!!!! Watching others in there as we came off the mask one at a time was an amazing thing to watch. You get the same effects at 25,000, it just takes a little longer. If I remember, the 35,000 foot deal, your "time of useful consciousness" was about 30 seconds, but I swear it seemed like it was 5 seconds!!!

It would have been nice to experience that once, but over 25,000 it's a "physiological incident" so I guess that would be bad w/o a pressure suit.

 

[HeyEng]

It would have been nice to experience that once, but over 25,000 it's a "physiological incident" so I guess that would be bad w/o a pressure suit.

I had talked to one of the physiological techs about it a few years back and he told me that there were too many "incidents" so, it was taken out of the "initial" syllabus. I am happy with 18,000 feet...actually, if I never have to go again, it wouldn't break my heart!

 

[staplegun]

I will submit, that it is an incredible experience. It truly opens your eyes to the environment we operate in, and the effect it has on you.

If you can get to one, do it....

I've been through a military chamber 4 times. Here's my advice to anyone attending this type of training:

The first time I went, I was just worried about "passing" the thing. I had visions of An Officer and a Gentleman floating through my head, so I put my mask back on at the first opportunity. I didn't realize it wasn't a graded event. Each time I've gone back, I explored the effects of hypoxia further and further.

Depending on the type of ride, the chamber will go to somewhere between 18,000 - 25,000 ft (in my experience). Once the chamber reaches the target altitude, you'll be asked to remove your O2 mask and do a variety of motor skills exercises. The instructions you generally receive are to go back on oxygen at the first signs of hypoxia. I disagree. I think you should stay off O2 and explore the effects hypoxia has on you so you have a better understanding of what to expect in a real situation. There are folks in the chamber who will attend to you if you need, and it's a controlled environment; so use it to your advantage.

The last time I went through the chamber the operator had us all describe the effects we experienced and asked us if they were the same or different as before. (We were all there for recurrent training.) To a man, everyone said the effects were the same as the ones they had experienced before. The instructor said that was the case in the majority of people. (Something like 90%, but I don't remember for sure.) There's a list of effects you might experience, but people tend to exhibit the same set of effects when they get hypoxia. Use the chamber as an opportunity to develop your symptoms so you can better recognize them if it happens for real.

Just my 2 yen.

I have also been through it 4 or 5 times, and I can tell you that it is absolutely the best training you can have on the effects of hypoxia.

Hypoxia and "time-of-usefull-consciousness" are like sex: you can study it and talk about it, but until you've actually experienced it you don't really know anything about it!

I found the effects of hypoxia to be very unpleasant - I couldn't wait to get my mask back on. The interesting thing to me was that a lot of people became "euphoric" and did not want to put their masks back on!

Hypoxia can be insidious and will kill you if you don't recognize it!


FWIW I get hypoxic at 10,001'.



Kevin

 

[mjg407]

I liked the chamber a hell of a lot more than the pool, and the helo dunker.

 

[staplegun]

I liked the chamber a hell of a lot more than the pool, and the helo dunker.

The helo dunker was also excellent training, especially if you spent 99% of your flight time at 150' & below!


Kevin

 

[Bandit_Driver]

I have heard accounts of people getting siezures and dying in the chamber from exploring the limits hypoxia? Is this urban myth or a real risk?

 

[Hckey2477]

I have witnessed an incident of somebody passing out in the chamber. When he passed out, he had quite frantic twitches. But i don't think it was necessarily a seizure. I have seen something similar when somebody has been knocked out. (not to say a seizure hasn't happend from a chamber)

 

[granlistillo]

I liked the chamber a hell of a lot more than the pool, and the helo dunker.

The Dilbrt dunker was a non-event, despite the water thrown halfway across the pool, the noise, and the movie hype. The Helo dunker still evokes alot of respect for navy helo crews that may have to face that situation.