Effect of Aircraft-Cabin Altitude on Passenger Discomfort

Long flights are associated with passenger discomfort. This study, conducted in an altitude chamber equipped to resemble a commercial-aircraft cabin, examined symptoms and oxygen saturation during a 20-hour simulated flight. The frequency of reported discomfort increased with increasing altitude; th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 357; no. 1; pp. 18 - 27
Main Authors Muhm, J. Michael, Rock, Paul B, McMullin, Dianne L, Jones, Stephen P, Lu, I.L, Eilers, Kyle D, Space, David R, McMullen, Aleksandra
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 05.07.2007
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Summary:Long flights are associated with passenger discomfort. This study, conducted in an altitude chamber equipped to resemble a commercial-aircraft cabin, examined symptoms and oxygen saturation during a 20-hour simulated flight. The frequency of reported discomfort increased with increasing altitude; there was also a drop in arterial oxygen saturation of 4.4 percentage points at a simulated altitude of 8000 ft. There was less discomfort at simulated altitudes of 6000 ft or less. This study examined symptoms and oxygen saturation during a 20-hour simulated flight. The frequency of reported discomfort increased with increasing altitude. There was less discomfort at simulated altitudes of 6000 ft or less. A commonly encountered but generally unrecognized exposure to moderate altitude (6500 to 8000 ft [1981 to 2438 m]) occurs during commercial flight. Although the cabins of commercial aircraft are pressurized to protect occupants from the very low barometric pressures at flight altitudes, sea-level pressure (760 mm Hg) is not maintained. Instead, aircraft are designed to maintain cabin pressure at a level no lower than 565 mm Hg (equivalent to an altitude of 8000 ft) when the airplane is at its maximum operating altitude. 1 Higher levels of pressurization decrease the energy available for other aircraft systems, reduce the operational lifetime of . . .
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa062770