Hypoxia is a significant danger in aviation and an insidious killer of passengers and pilots. Special guest Miles O'Brien hosts a discussion with aviation experts Todd Curtis, Greg Feith, and John Goglia that covers how hypoxia impacts all forms of aviation. They discuss personal experiences with hypoxia and share insights from several hypoxia-related accidents.

Hypoxia is a condition where the human body is deprived of oxygen which can reduce mental function. Hypoxia can be particularly hazardous for pilots because someone experiencing hypoxia may not be aware of its symptoms or its effects on their performance.

One high-profile incident in 1999 took the life to golfer Payne Stewart. He was a passenger in a Learjet 35 that took off from Orlando Executive Airport and became non-responsive to air traffic control. Fighter jets intercepted the plane and determined the crew was unconscious. After 1500 miles the jet ran out of fuel and crashed over South Dakota. 

Greg, Todd, Miles, and John have all experienced hypoxia in controlled altitude chambers. They share their experiences, which include feelings of euphoria, reduced mental capacity, reduced physical performance, and even a case of high-altitude bends. 

Key to understanding hypoxia is the concept of time of useful consciousness, which is the amount of time a person can spend at altitude without feeling the effects of hypoxia. That period of time gets smaller as altitude increases. Age, stress, and other factors may shorten those times.

Related documents are at the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website.

Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.

Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to [email protected].

Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.