Aircraft OXYGEN systems, how do they work?

Sponsor: brilliant.org/mentourpilot/
In this episode I will cover the passenger oxygen system, the PILOT oxygen system and why there is a need for oxygen on commercial airliners in the first place?
Maybe some of you saw the pictures of the passengers of Southwest airlines flight 1380 who wore the oxygen masks only over their mouths? I will explain why that was a bad idea and what the pilots will do in case the pressure inside the cabin disappears.
If you have any questions or comments on this video, I would love to hear them. Use the comments section below OR contact me directly by using @mentour inside the Mentour Aviation app-chat.
If you haven't got the app yet, use the links below to download it, it is completely FREE to download!
📲IOS: appstore.com/mentouraviation
📲Android: play.google.com/store/apps/de...
A special thank you to my sponsors, BOSE Aviation and Brilliant.org for helping me produce this video!
Also I want to send special thank you to the channel "Timeouthobbies" which I borrowed some material from:
/ channel

[@traqnsavov822]

"You will be stupid but you will not know it" that's me all the time :)

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha!

[@Jac-Jay]

Traqn Savov I thought the same about myself as soon as he said it

[@ercanyesiltas]

well it sounds like you know it already :)

[@jmihalich1]

I laughed at that one too

[@totojejedinecnynick]

this applies to all FLs...

[@wilsonestevez6644]

Excellent explanation Captain ! Thank you !

[@dennypollard8004]

I am an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) and math is very important for all mechanics as well. Math is on all FAA mechanic tests and something we use everyday same as pilots.

[@wkdravenna]

Denny Pollard math is an excuse to promote racism. Because math isn't taught very well in certain areas specially to promote syestemic raceism.

[@dennypollard8004]

Math is a pure science that only has one true answer. Pilots and mechanics both depend on math to perform our jobs of flying from point A to point B and for us mechanics we use math to determine limits of aircraft design and wear. Sorry to tell you but if you cannot do the math you should not be in aviation as people lives depend on our math ability and it has nothing to do with racism. Shame on you for bringing racism into a serious discussion on aviation travel.

[@wkdravenna]

In the US its Systematic to have poor education in area's where there are minority's. Its to keep them from being able to be in industries and have jobs like you do. Its wrong. But at least mentour is fighting that with programs such as he has mentioned to allow people to defeat that hate with education. don't get mad at me for pointing out racism when I see it. I wont i refuse. Sorry you don't like it, but we have to stand up to it.

[@dennypollard8004]

Sadly you are seriously misinformed about education in the U.S. it’s not race based. In aviation race does not matter, but your skill level does. In the U.S. you can become a pilot or aircraft mechanic if you want to by gaining the required skill. I teach aircraft mechanics and test applicants to be an FAA certified mechanics as a designee. Currently about half of my applicants are from one minority group or another and about 10% are female. If you have data to back up your claim you should present it. I work in the industry and I do not see the race issue you do maybe because I am color blind.

[@wkdravenna]

You are showing your hate, failure to admit it. You are the reason we have an orange dictator !

[@briankirkbright8060]

Please carry on with these informative type videos, they are really interesting and the way you are presenting them makes for very easy listening, thank you.

[@maverick279]

I like how you explain everything, slowly and clearly. Excellent.👌

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you! I’m glad you liked it.

[@kidinthedark1]

I can't believe, that a plane crashed, because the pilots didn't look, what the gauges said, and they thought it was the takeoff config alert - helios 512

[@srdjanmi]

I know that I repeat myself, but every one of your videos is perfect and very well explained as this one. I really love all of your videos with which I've learned a lot. 😀✈

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you! I do my best. 😊

[@robertkitundu525]

thank you for your explanation, it's so helpful and indeed you are so brave at this. God bless you so much

[@diegoarpino2080]

"You will be stupid but not know it." The funniest thing that I have ever heard him say.

[@linascekatauskas2790]

Very nice video. Got so much information from it. BIG THANK YOU! MENTOUR! For doing these videos, keep going, you are awesome guy!

[@garydunken7934]

Very useful and informative. And, I just realised you have reached 200k subs in a very short time compared to your first 100k! Congratulations!

[@7.3ididiesel36]

Hope you are doing absolutely fantastic, congratulations on 200K subscribers! I've been here since 60K.

[@johanchristofferroempke4834]

l0l 60k I was here before it was cool dude

[@nyceyes]

I mentioned this elsewhere, but again these are great videos! I really enjoy the technical detail and the what, where, why, how and when information in them. Thank you for these videos. 😊

[@vikingpilot4558]

Very nice and well explained as always, thank you.

[@HalospeedGT5]

Your channel is highly addictive, learn something everytime, appreciate these video during even more when internet is full or garbage. I value your effort and time to make these video interesting and understand this industry a bit better. Thank you

[@giacomo3223]

I really understood all your explanations!!! Thank you so much for this and for the great videos you make!!

[@miscellaneous.7127]

I recently subscribed and now this is one of my favourite channels. And mentour is so nice he seems too good to be true.

[@MentourPilot]

And yet, HERE I AM 😂 I’m glad you like it!

[@miscellaneous.7127]

Even though I want to go into military as oppose to civil aviation I find your advice and general attitude to be of great help.

[@edwinfabro5111]

Aloha and Mahalo for your educational segments. Keep up the great work! Edwin

[@coolams4343]

congratulations on 200K subscribers! love all ur videos

[@avatarda95]

wow what an amazing explanation Captain ! thanks for spending time for us :)

[@MentourPilot]

Great! I’m happy you liked it!

[@mathewmclean9128]

Very informative! Thank you for another great video! I was always wondering how the flight crew members would access an oxygen mask in a hurry, but you definitely explained it well with each oxygen unit having an extra mask in each row. Keep up these very interesting informative and awesome videos.

[@bjs2022]

Good report, thanks. And, thank you for the good, proper, body microphone sound, unlike about 95% of the KZbin vloggers who do not.

[@tomwebster3074]

Absolutely fantastic video once again! Love to see one about procedures for tyre bursts sometime? Many thanks Tom

[@abeash9529]

Very informative since I'm on 2 Southwest flights this week!!

[@Brissles]

Your videos are, dare I say, absolutely fantastic.

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you! 😂😉

[@richhoule3462]

I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you!

[@airfoxtrot2006]

Very nice informative video Mentour! I enjoyed watching it, have a good weekend.

[@MentourPilot]

You to!

[@stenic2]

As usual very well done very clear exlanation...

[@j.obrador4682]

Very well explained as always Peter

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@sajidalisayed3337]

Thank you. It was very informative.

[@linneaastrom5672]

Blir alltid lika glad när du lägger upp en ny video🙌🏻

[@reservaify]

Very informative thanks

[@Xlastsuspectx]

Hey! Thats the video I suggested a few weeks back! Awesome Petter! God helg mann! :D

[@MentourPilot]

The ones who asks shall receive! Trevlig helg!

[@BryanDorr]

Excellent video for both pilots and passengers.

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@heverj.rebelesquinteros9898]

Really enjoyed your video, thanks!

[@shauryambasu4211]

Very detailed information provided . Thanks Mentour !

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you for watching!

[@shauryambasu4211]

Mentour Pilot Your videos are worth watching . The topics which you take for your podcast are just so interesting too.Things which would have been difficult for an aircraft enthusiast to learn , can be easily learnt through your videos . Thanks for uploading them and making people love the world of Aviation . Waiting for your upcoming videos and would request you to do a video on wing dihedral . Thanks captain 🤗

[@MiguelAngel-oj3pr]

very interesting episode as always in the next one would you be able to talk about the pack system aswell as the bleed air please

[@shreyasjoshi5487]

Fantastic video, lots of information 👍👍👍

[@benjaminschille7653]

Always the best teacher of the times kkkkkk nice video ,my inspiration

[@MentourPilot]

Great to hear that you liked it!

[@nyc.bt.9512]

Mentour pilot you are the best I really likes and enjoy your very clear and professional videos very kool

[@abdelazizkoraichi7362]

Thanks for the information

[@johancronisk3405]

I love all your videos. So thorough. :)

[@thedevilcomes2011]

Nice video! and good work on the intros' audio level - much better :) outro still could come down a tad {rip headphones} thanks for listening to my previous comment though!!!

[@69mxu]

You just made my day much safer. Happy flights for everyone.

[@pauldietrich8994]

This is a great video Peter. It was sad that so many people were so oblivious to being able to put on there O2 mask the proper way. Also for the people who ask about O2 for emergencies, don't the see the first aid kits and O2 tanks onboard? I guess they where to self involved.

[@brllntccdnt6442]

Great video as always Mentour! What exactly does the pass oxy switch on the aft overhead panel do?

[@user-qp8fy2mu6g]

It forces oxygen masks to free fall out of their compartments so passengers and the cabin crew could use them.

[@PlaneCrazy1999]

Also: the masks will deploy automatically, but it's part of the relevant emergency checklist to flip that switch just to make sure they really are down.

[@cshamm]

Great video!

[@bwagenberg]

Beautifully explained. You forgot to mention the cabin crew's portable tanks and the occasional passenger surviving riding in the wheel well.

[@petemac7969]

Good video. I couldn't believe the photos from the SW incident with all the passengers wearing the Oxygen masks the wrong way. Fortunate the crew was able to get the plane below 10,000' as quickly as they did. Mentour's mention about paying attention to the safety briefing is well advised, even for people that travel a lot.

[@NICOCRAFTAviation737]

wow Great you solved my Question Thanks Mentour you are the Best :)

[@12Deathcon]

Mentour Pilot, love your videos. You did a fairly good job at explaining Hypoxia. There is a great example of the effects of Hypoxia which was done by Destin from Smarter everyday, where he goes through pressure chamber testing to demonstrate the effects.

[@samuelyousef6117]

Really very valuable information, thank you Mentour Pilot

[@MentourPilot]

Great to hear that you liked it!!

[@samuelyousef6117]

I used to travel to my home country in yearly basis taking 3 plans in each trip , and good to know in detail how every single detail works, i found it absolutely fantastic :-) , waiting for next video

[@annemargaret5562]

Flying today very excited, with your airline I think :-) it just reminded me that back in the late 90's I was a super nervous flyer, but I was lucky enough to be invited into the cockpit where the pilots were fantastic and explained all sorts of things to me during the flight. I left feeling much happier and I really thank those pilots! Also many thanks to this channel too for explaining so much, now I feel really safe and absolutely love flying :-)

[@spiros7376]

Another great video cpt. Do more technical videos about 738 systems. Thank you.

[@MentourPilot]

More on the way.

[@brucekendall52]

Good info,thk you.

[@pondicherryalumini1464]

Great Explanation

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@CarlosLaraLife]

Your videos are amazing!!

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@jeevessagoo]

Amazing video!

[@aaryamanberiwala2004]

Sir congratulations for 200K subs

[@JoaoGuilherme-uu4co]

Great Video! Seened Helios Disaster Investigation!

[@AI4QT]

Excellent.

[@kvkk1977]

Superb! Such an important information that you must know when you are flying! Thank you very much captain! :-)

[@JohnMitch]

Excellent!!

[@miltongg5026]

The pilots masks where much more advanced than I first thought, and good video by the way.

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@Therongunner]

Why would anyone dislike this very well explained and simplified video?

[@douglassantos3700]

Great videos as always thanks! Also where are you from?

[@NetAndyCz]

I really think that with all the time you have to spend on the airport as a passenger it would be nice if there was an option and perhaps even encouraged one to practice using oxygen masks, life jackets, or exiting the plane on inflated slope:D Anyway I would love to have some fun on the airport and learn something potentionally useful at the same time.

[@MentourPilot]

Not a bad idea, as always it’s about man-power and money.

[@mikaeltr005]

Indeed I "know" flying is safe, but the back of my brain is not convinced. So I am generally lightly drunk to relax my fear of flying. But if i saw people practicing emergency i would need to be absolutely drunk to even board a plane..

[@NetAndyCz]

Yeah I just would love to "try" some things. I have no ideea what force is required to inflatee a vest or pull the oxygen mask to trigger the proper action, I think I would knoww what to do in emergency situation but I cannot know for sure without trying.

[@galefeynman9796]

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to offer to people with frequent flyer status as an optional add on to ticket price.

[@ConnanTheCivilized]

Also, the lawyers running everything would worry about causing a scare. To be fair, they should worry, especially with all the clickbait media out there.

[@mansnot-hot5317]

Thanks for the great video!!! (as always :))

[@MentourPilot]

Thank YOU for supporting!

[@mansnot-hot5317]

Captain Marsman Hi

[@rickvia8435]

Great stuff.

[@paveldruto3829]

Great and clear video for all people who are stupid but don't know it! Thanks again

[@alessandromonterosso94]

Thank you this really helped me understand hypoxia better, as I hope to be cabin crew in the future ✈️😃

[@BGlickster]

Captain, just discovered your channel and really appreciate your knowledge and ability to convey information about aviation. I am a Private Pilot and always wanted to be a commercial airline pilot, just did not have two eyes (lost one). Keep it up! I live vicariously though you. By the way, do you pressurization the cabin to 8000 feet above sea level or lower? Do you pressurize the cabin on the ground, after engine start up? Thanks!

[@fivemilesup]

Perfect timing Mentour Pilot. I am due for examination in AGK next week. Maybe you could do a video on the pneumatics of the 737?

[@MentourPilot]

Well, I’m not sure if my videos are ATPL exam worthy my friend. They tend to need a bit more details.

[@fivemilesup]

I agree. My thought was not to use it for studying for my finals, but rather for great content. I just think that pneumatics are interesting. People might find it interesting to know that the air they are beathing are coming from the engines fx.

[@joshuauriarte452]

Helios Airways Flight 522 was caused by a maintenance worker no setting the pressurized switch back. it was in manual not auto due to some test needing to be done on the plane that morning. Also love your vids. keep it up. I have learned some good stuff that i didn't know about. Hope you make a video soon on the pressurized cabin and comparing it from The De havilland comet and today's aircraft.

[@spot1401]

Fun times back in med school when we sent our buddy Carsten up on Mt. Everest while doing math in his head. We also used him later for electroshocks (which was called nerve speed tests) :)

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

S Pot • Wait. What?

[@spot1401]

there was an experiment in physiology class where a student put a mask on and the partial pressure of oxygen was reduced until it resembled Mt. Everest (for a short period of time). Meanwhile the student had to do simple arrithmetics, like subtraction of 13 from 1000 over and over and also had to write his name. Carsten did not suffer permanent damage and is now a kickass orthopedic surgeon :) the electro shock experiment was placing an electrode spike in your elbow and time the jitter in the finger. I am gettin all nostalgic!

[@lilieshifts7391]

My brother is messing with me because I'm going on a flight soon. Your videos have helped ease my anxiety. Thank you

[@avcafe]

as far as i remember from the human performance lecture, we use %100 oxygen under pressure above 40 000 ft because Just %100 percent oxygen without pressure won't be enough to compensate the effects of hypoxia. Thank you so so soooo much for your effort and work on teaching all of the aviation fans or pilots around the world. We love you

[@Ksmuve37]

Maybe this is insignificant,but I'm starting to realize that there are some people that are infatuated with the "thumbs down", all of the clips that I've watched were entertaining and informative. I mean what's wrong with it? I love this guy....thumbs down?!? Get a life!!

[@MentourPilot]

There will always be people with different opinions. Not a problem for me. I’m glad you liked it!

[@tgm9991]

Thumbs down actually helps push the video higher in searches anyway as KZbin just looks at how many people are interacting with the video and they don't care if it's negative or positive, so it's no real problem.

[@mrburningpotato249]

great video

[@CalvinsWorldNews]

There was a seconds from disaster (or some similar documentry) a few years ago where the takeaway was that the masks had fallen but the pilots were knocked out and the plane didn't descend to an appropriate height. Lesson being if you're in a masks scenario and the plane is remaining steady, check on the pilots.

[@dalebraun5497]

New subscriber here and I love what you do. Can you go through what an "emergency decent" entails? How steep and how long would it take to descend from 30,000 to 40,000 feet; how fast is the plane going and at what angle?

[@gaitazampogna32]

Great video! Can you do a video avout VOR/DME? navigation, GPS, when ATC gives directions, when you follow flight plan... ? Thanks!

[@parthsharma3462]

hey Mentour....an amazing video as always! what does a pilot do in case of a hijack .........and are they trained to deal with them ? and is taking out the fire axe and swinging it at them an option ?

[@Violent2aShadow]

Are you sure our lungs are designed to work at ground level? Because I know plenty of people who act stupid and don't even recognize it.

[@MentourPilot]

Well, the design was for that. 😂

[@mysock351C]

If you where a Mt. Everest Shilpa you probably would act a lot less stupid since you'd be acclimated to breathing at high altitude. For them, mask is optional. For the rest of us, stupidity is mandated at altitude.

[@davidmarquardt2445]

Actually even at 30,000 feet you have the same proportion of oxygen and nitrogen as you do at sea level, 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen with about 1% argon for the remainder. But the partial pressure is much lower at that height and our lungs are adapted to function at sea level which is about 14.7 psi. So in this case going to 100% oxygen helps bring the partial pressure up to a level close to what we are used to at sea level. But pure oxygen at high pressure can become toxic over a period of time. In hyperbaric chambers in hospitals they may go up 2 atmospheres (about 35 psi) to purge patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, but they also include short periods where they breathe 21/78 mix to prevent oxygen toxicity, which can result in blacking out and convulsions. This can also work in reverse. Very deep divers will use a gas mix with little to no nitrogen, helium and maybe as low as 5% oxygen. But at the depth they are operating at, this gives the same partial pressure of oxygen as at 1 atmosphere ( sea level ).

[@deeanna8448]

I came here to say the same thing!

[@Newtube_Channel]

There are other factors besides hypoxia which also affects peoples' state of mind. Hypoxia is definitely one factor, and as you increase in altitude the atmosphere gets thinner.

[@khazh17]

Just did my CPL tech exam 4 days ago... I was wishing you release this video sooner...

[@MentourPilot]

I hope it went fine my friend!

[@khazh17]

I got 76 and passed, not so bad but It would be better if someone explained more for me about oxygen systems. I got two question wrong about it. LOL Do you remember when you released a video about "How do flaps work on an aircraft?" in last year ? Well, that was when I just did my PPL tech exam a week ago, passed but with a lot of luck. So if you are intending to make a video on Human Factors or Air law, I think now is the good time to do it :) Anyway, thank you so much. Your video help our studying a lot. The knowledge is very basic and it help us to have a bigger picture about everything, not just the A/C only. Can't do it with out you.

[@khazh17]

Well, knowledge is there, but sometime I can't connect them all. Need some one to show me the way.

[@erikwalfridsson8790]

Thanks for a very interresting video. One question: What chimicals are used in the oxygen generators? with or without a catalyst, and if the case is the former, what catalyst? Thanks in advance.

[@IamSpartacus1984]

I`d like to bet that a rapid decent like that ( in an emergency decompression) would cause real problems for your ears. I`m a frequent flyer and sometimes i have problems with earache and ear popping after some flights. Sometimes for a few days after. I love flying and aviation in general but the ear pressure/ popping thing is definitely the worst part of flying for me. Thankyou for all your vids Mentour. They are simply brilliant and i never miss a single one!

[@MentourPilot]

Yes, especially since the aircraft is normally unpressurized and that meant that the cabin will descent at the same rate as the aircraft. Quite uncomfortable to say the least.

[@abudabidibibudi]

I'm a pilot from MONTENEGRO respect !!!

[@davew5383]

This video is very interesting. I don't fly very often but I always listen to the safety instructions. I have always wondered about the proper way to use the passenger oxygen mask. I always watch the demonstration of it and from my understanding of it, I have thought that you just pull the mask down towards you and put it on. I haven't fully understood that you need to tug on it to get the oxygen flowing, I have always thought that it was already happening automatically. Thank You very much for making this video👍🙂

[@shivamagarwal4459]

I'm a B737 fo from India . U have some amazing informative videos . After some of your videos I hit the fcom and stuff gets a whole lot easier ! Thank you so much for that . Hope u have a fantastic day !

[@MentourPilot]

Great to hear! That’s what I’m hoping for!

[@shivamagarwal4459]

Hopefully I was wondering if u could make a video bout descend planning and how u deal and know the needed track miles when u get a shortcut while on approach ? Thank you .

[@shivamagarwal4459]

Mentour Pilot captain , any good books on 737 for performance (like cockpit companion for technical ) ?

[@William93ITA]

Can't wait for a proper explanation of the pressurization! Great as always!!

[@MentourPilot]

On the way.

[@sjkaborePersonal]

Yep very interesting video💯

[@einarbolstad8150]

Good video as always (although it's a safety demo/brief, not security demo/brief).

[@brucel.6078]

Brilliant video. Thank you! I have question for you. Will ask in mentour app...

[@Lazasakh]

Спасибо за интересные видео!

[@Steebow]

Excellent recommendation to the flying public to LISTEN to the pre-flight safety instructions.

[@FlyboythaACE]

Is there a training course that a frequent flyer like myself can join to actually practice using the oxygen mask, opening exit doors and using slides? It would be nice just to have the experience just to know what to expect in the unlikely event.

[@ngxaviation]

Nice!

[@gyes99]

"You will be stupid, but you will not know it." I need that stuff.

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha!

[@sathishsalmani9478]

Hi I like your videos, thanks for making all these videos , could you also explain and show the CED(Crew entry door ) Windows (latest ones are like Prismatic windows and Fiber optical Windows) and Vent doors on CED, looking forward to it.Thanks

[@zeshanmunir5673]

Plzz make an video on parking breaks. ..

[@sydyidanton5873]

Hey there, Great video as always. I really enjoy all of your presentations. You would make an awesome trainer if you are not already. I just wanted to share with you something perhaps you are already aware of regarding the PSU oxygen systems. The system you are describing is a chemical generator system. On other aircraft B777 and B747 for example the system is gaseous just like the flight deck. There is an entire bank of cylinders in the outboard fuselage of the forward hold. When you pull down on the masks to activate, a pin is released from a spring-loaded Puritan-Bennett valve enabling oxygen to flow. The system is capable of being switched off by having the cabin crew flip up the valve lever and replace the pin in each of the activated PSUs. The B787 has a very unique and bizarre system; when the masks are released they unroll from a reel inside the PSU housing, there is no 'pull to activate' system, they have a pressure sensor disc inside the mask so as one breathes oxygen is only released on inhalation called PulseOx. They also do not have a concentrating reservoir bags like the usual Scott/Zodiac AviOx types. Anyhow, I just thought you might be interested. I love the B737, it's my favourite short-haul airliner. I have crewed the B737-100s, -200ADV, -300, -400 and -800. Loved them all for their various personalities. Wishing you always safe and enjoyable flying :)

[@MentourPilot]

I am indeed. Both a Typerating Instructor, Examiner and Linetraining captain. Thank you for your kind feedback!