A Man-Mounted Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System for use by Rotor Wing Crew and Occupants
David Stancil
The Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System or PHODS was designed for the sole purpose of providing oxygen to helicopter crews currently engaged in war in Afghanistan by providing an efficient and lightweight oxygen system to be used in rotor craft flying missions greater than 10,000 ft. In 2003 the US Army was challenged to conduct combat operations in a high risk-high altitude environment. Because the US Army had not been challenged to conduct high altitude missions in previous history they were not properly equipped to fly at higher altitudes. Because of the lack of specifically designed equipment for helicopter high altitude oxygen delivery systems the Army was forced to make due with COTS equipment commonly used in general aviation. Aqua Lung America conceptualized a system that would provide efficient, lightweight and autonomous operation and deliver enough supplemental oxygen to the aviator that maintains an average of 95% O2 blood saturation. Because of the multiple sub component expertise required, Aqua Lung teamed up with Gentex West and Mountain High. PM Air Warrior was able to provide oversight, program management and testing of the PHODS which has contributed to the successful completion of the system. This teaming endeavor proved to be invaluable and resulted in an efficient oxygen delivery system that will be utilized by many NATO countries. PHODS is capable of providing supplemental O2 to aircrews with duration of greater than 3 hours with a robust flex boom cannula and greater than 2 hours using the MBU-20 modified mask with a supply system pressurized to 2,200 psi and a 2 cubic ft. cylinder. The system is controlled by an electronic oxygen pulse controller that once turned on delivers the appropriate amount of oxygen to the user at variable altitudes autonomously. The PHODS has now been environmentally tested as well as live human subject tested in two different altitude chambers with superb results. PHODS is currently under production for the US Army. The PHODS has undoubtedly set a new standard for personal oxygen delivery systems to a market that was previously ignored due to the lack of requirements that we are now faced with in the fight against Global War on Terrorism. PHODS was nominated and received the SAFE Award for Team Achievement in October of 2008.
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