September 2004
By now most people are familiar with the term FADEC (Full-Authority Digital Engine Control). Mountain High Equipment & Supply has modified that acronym with their proprietary FADOC™, or the EDS-D1a Full-Authority Digital Oxygen Control.
FADOC is a simple concept, but one which had never been tried until Mountain High founder Patrick McLaughlin began concentrating on the problem. “It’s really been a progression of designs,” the Redmond, OR inventor explained.
“The EDS-D1 and EDS-ip units use digital electronic ‘Pulse Demand’ oxygen delivery that’s different from the standard constant-flow system. Our unit wastes no oxygen during two-thirds of the breathing cycle—exhaling and pausing before inhaling again—when oxygen is not being delivered to the lungs.”
McLaughlin said that studies have shown that 90 percent of the oxygen supplied by the EDS-D1a is transferred to the blood, yielding a PaO2 saturation of around 95 percent in the typical pilot, thus increasing oxygen efficiency and reducing flow by an average of four to six times over the constant-flow system, and the nine-volt alkaline battery that drives the electronics will last up to 50 hours.
“The EDS-D1a reduces oxygen-related cockpit work to nil,” he continued. “There are no flow indicators to watch or valves that must be manually adjusted because of altitude changes. Two push buttons cycle the unit through the various modes suitable for face masks or nasal cannulas. A built-in barometer automatically determines the correct amount of required supplemental oxygen pulses for various altitudes.”
In addition to the control unit, the basic system consists of an aluminum (or optional Kevlar or carbon fiber composite) main oxygen cylinder in a choice of sizes, a primary reducing regulator, low pressure service line, breathing cannula, face mask and tote and cylinder bags.
A single-place system sells for under $1,000; a two-place system is $449 more. Regulators, adaptors, hardware and in-panel systems are also available.
“We’re trying to educate General Aviation on the value of oxygen,” McLaughlin added. “The NTSB has found that 90 percent of the aircraft accidents in which no problem was found with the aircraft happen at the conclusion of cross-country flights, when the pilot may be fatigued.
The board suspects that two-thirds to three-fourths of pilots who fly at altitude don’t use oxygen.”
FADOC is currently being certified for Part 23 Normal and Utility operations and approval is expected to be completed by next year. That will be followed by testing for use on Part 25 Transport category and Part 27 and Part 29 rotorcraft.
For additional information on FADOC and a comprehensive line of aviation oxygen equipment, contact Mountain High toll-free at (800) 468-8185 or by e-mail at sales@MHoxygen.com.
