Filling oxygen tanks

Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

I've been told by some that they charge mechanic labor rate for
doing the filling.


"Bruce McFadden" wrote in message
...

Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

Legally you have to use ABO (Aviator's Breathing Oxygen). The only
difference is supposed the quality assurance for contaminants such as
water. My oxygen supplier gets them from the same source and tests it
all to better than ABO standards. He ships bottles marked ABO to
those who require it. Check with some of your local suppliers and
they'll certainly be cheaper than any FBO.


On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 19:28:55 GMT, Bruce McFadden
wrotD:


Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J




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Don Hammer wrote:
Legally you have to use ABO (Aviator's Breathing Oxygen). The only
difference is supposed the quality assurance for contaminants such as
water. My oxygen supplier gets them from the same source and tests it
all to better than ABO standards. He ships bottles marked ABO to
those who require it. Check with some of your local suppliers and
they'll certainly be cheaper than any FBO.


Bunk.

I refer you to http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182079-1.html


--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

Great link, thx. Must have missed that one.

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.

This topic has been beaten to death over the years... Search the
archive and you will have enough reading to keep you up past bedtime...
Yes, they are sucking your wallet... You can fill your tank from any
larger oxygen tank... No, there is no difference between medical O2,
breathing O2, welding O2, etc... It all comes from the same tank of
liquid oxygen at the supplier, delivered in the same truck with the
white frost on it, and piped in through the same hoses as he goes from
factory, to hospital, to welding shop, etc...... If you can't find the
archived material drop me a private email and I'll discuss it
further...

Do a quick test next time you night fly... Climb up to 8K or so, level
off, notice the ground lights, turn on the O2, notice the ground lights
get really bright and suddenly have colors to them..
Denny

Don Hammer wrote:
Legally you have to use ABO (Aviator's Breathing Oxygen). The only
difference is supposed the quality assurance for contaminants such as
water. My oxygen supplier gets them from the same source and tests it
all to better than ABO standards. He ships bottles marked ABO to
those who require it. Check with some of your local suppliers and
they'll certainly be cheaper than any FBO.

Which regulation requires this?

Matt

In article ,
Matt Whiting wrote:

Don Hammer wrote:
Legally you have to use ABO (Aviator's Breathing Oxygen). The only
difference is supposed the quality assurance for contaminants such as
water. My oxygen supplier gets them from the same source and tests it
all to better than ABO standards. He ships bottles marked ABO to
those who require it. Check with some of your local suppliers and
they'll certainly be cheaper than any FBO.

Which regulation requires this?

Matt

I wouldn't be surprised if it's in some part 121/135 op-specs, which is
as good as being a regulation.

Roy Smith wrote:
In article ,
Matt Whiting wrote:


Don Hammer wrote:

Legally you have to use ABO (Aviator's Breathing Oxygen). The only
difference is supposed the quality assurance for contaminants such as
water. My oxygen supplier gets them from the same source and tests it
all to better than ABO standards. He ships bottles marked ABO to
those who require it. Check with some of your local suppliers and
they'll certainly be cheaper than any FBO.

Which regulation requires this?

Matt


I wouldn't be surprised if it's in some part 121/135 op-specs, which is
as good as being a regulation.

Not if you aren't a 121 or 135 operation.


Matt

I quote from the FAA and related regulations (these are the only one's
I found that do not related to altitude, equipment, etc.)


AC 43-16A - Aviation Maintenance Alerts, #36, July 1981
"Do not confuse aviators breathing O2 with hospital/medical O2. The
latter is
pure enough for breathing but the moisture content is usually higher which
could freeze and plug the lines and valves of an aircraft O2 system)....
Aviators breathing oxygen going into aircraft oxygen systems should meet
the purity and moisture specifications as contained in Military
Specification MIL-0-27210: purity - 99.5 percent by volume (minimum);
moisture - 0.005 milligrams per liter of gas (maximum)."


AC 65-9A - A & P Powerplant Mechanics General handbook,
Chp 11. Ground servicing
" Only oxygen marked "Aviators Breathing Oxygen" which meets Federal
Specification BB-0-925a Grade A or equivalent may be used in aircraft
breathing oxygen systems."

SAE AS 8010 Aviators Breathing Oxygen Purity Standard.

So -- there are no mandatory regulations that I could find. So if
the supplier's O2 meets the MIL spec or Federal Spec, there should
be no argument.

*sigh*

I really got to get a life...