Civil Aviation Order 108.

26 (as amended)

made under subregulations 207 (2) and (3) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.

This compilation was prepared on 2 November 2007 taking into account amendments
up to Civil Aviation Order 108.26 Amendment Order (No. 1) 2007.

Prepared by the Legislative Drafting Branch, Legal Services Group, Civil Aviation
Safety Authority, Canberra.

Contents
System specification — oxygen systems
Page

1 Application 1
2 Abbreviations 1
3 Oxygen specifications 2
4 System arrangements 2
5 Dispensing units 2
6 Minimum mass flow of supplemental oxygen 3
7 Protective breathing equipment 4
Appendix II 6
Notes to Civil Aviation Order 108.26 7

Section 108.26

System specification — oxygen systems

1 Application
1.1 This section of Civil Aviation Orders contains specifications for aircraft oxygen
systems intended for operation at altitudes up to 40 000 feet and is applicable in
such circumstances as may be specified by CASA or an authorised person under
the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.
Note Specifications for oxygen systems in aircraft intended for operations at altitudes
above 40 000 feet are subject to separate determination by CASA.

2 Abbreviations
BTPD means body temperature and pressure dry.
BTPS means body temperature and pressure saturated.
STPD means standard temperature and pressure dry.
(0°C. at 760 mm Hg, dry)

1
 Civil Aviation Order 108.26

3 Oxygen specifications
3.3 (1) Oxygen used in gaseous oxygen systems must comply with a specification
acceptable to CASA.
The following specifications are acceptable:
C.I.G. Gas Code 420 or 430;
RAAF Specification G172;
U.K. Ministry of Defence DEF STAN 68-2 1/1;
U.S. Military Specification MIL-0-272 10.
(2) Oxygen produced by chemical means in an aircraft oxygen system must comply
with a specification acceptable to CASA.
The following specifications are acceptable:
U.S. Military Specification MIL-E-83252;
Scott Engineering Report 1024.
4 System arrangements
4.3 Portable oxygen units may be used to meet the crew or passenger breathing
requirements.
5 Dispensing units
5.1 An individual dispensing unit must be installed for each occupant for whom
supplemental oxygen is to be supplied. A unit must be equipped with a suitable
means to retain the unit in position on the face.
5.1.1 A unit:
(a) must not adversely affect a person’s ability to use the aircraft’s electronic
communication equipment while using the unit; or
(b) must provide alternative electronic communication equipment that the
person can use while using the unit.
5.1.2 The units provided in an aircraft operating at or below flight level 180 must
include at least 1 unit designed to cover the nose and mouth for every 15 units
provided.
5.1.3 Every unit provided in an aircraft operating above flight level 180 must be
designed to cover the nose and mouth.
5.1.4 Every unit installed in an unpressurised aircraft on or after 10 January 1996
must meet the requirements of paragraph 5.1.6.
5.1.5 On and after 10 January 1999, every unit provided in an unpressurised aircraft
must meet the requirements of paragraph 5.1.6.
5.1.6 For the purposes of paragraphs 5.1.4 and 5.1.5, a unit meets the requirements of
this paragraph if the following information is clearly visible on it:
(a) a notice prohibiting smoking while the unit is used;
(b) an illustration showing how to put the unit on;
(c) a notice describing the dangers of flying with any kind of nasal obstruction
or congestion.
5.2 For operations at altitudes up to and including 25 000 feet where section 20.4 of
the Civil Aviation Orders requires the use of oxygen, each crew member must
be provided with and have readily available, an oxygen supply terminal and
dispensing unit. For other occupants under these same circumstances, the

2
 Civil Aviation Order 108.26

supply terminals and dispensing equipment must be located to allow the use of
oxygen as required by section 20.4 of the Civil Aviation Orders.
5.3 For operations above 25 000 feet, the provision of oxygen dispensing equipment
must meet the following requirements:
(a) an oxygen dispensing unit which is connected to oxygen supply terminals
must be immediately available to each occupant, wherever seated. The
total number of dispensing units and outlets must exceed the number of
seats by at least 10%. The extra units must be as uniformly distributed
throughout the cabin as is practicable;
(b) crew members on flight deck duty must be provided with demand
equipment. In addition, an oxygen dispensing unit connected to an oxygen
supply terminal, must be immediately available to each flight crew member
when seated at his station. Where a quick-donning type of oxygen mask is
used to meet the requirements of section 20.4 of the Civil Aviation Orders,
it must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of CASA that:
(i) the mask is capable of being placed on the face from the ready position,
properly secured, sealed, and supplying oxygen on demand, with
1 hand within 5 seconds; and
(ii) the mask can be donned without disturbing eye glasses and without
delaying the flight crew member from proceeding with his assigned
emergency duties; and
(iii) immediately the donning action is completed, the flight crew member
can communicate with other crew members over the aircraft
intercommunication system;
(d) portable oxygen equipment must be immediately available for each cabin
attendant.
6 Minimum mass flow of supplemental oxygen
6.1 If continuous flow equipment is installed for the use by flight crew members,
the minimum mass flow of supplemental oxygen available for each crew
member must not be less than the flow required to maintain, during inspiration,
a mean tracheal oxygen partial pressure of 149 mm Hg when breathing 15 litres
per minute, BTPS and with a maximum tidal volume of 700 cc with a constant
time interval between respirations. The flow rates and mask efficiencies in
Appendix II may be used instead of the above flow rates.
6.1A In spite of paragraph 6.1, flight crew members may use nasal cannula
manufactured under the name “Oxymizer”, subject to the following conditions:
(a) the minimum flow of supplemental oxygen available for each flight crew
member at various cabin pressure altitudes must not be less than 0.3 litre
per minute at 10 000 feet altitude, increasing by 0.1 litre per minute for
every 2 000 feet up to 18 000 feet altitude;
(b) the flight crew members must use the nasal cannula only during private,
aerial work, or charter, operations;
(c) the aircraft must not operate above 18 000 feet altitude.
6.2 If demand equipment is installed for use by flight crew members, the minimum
mass flow of supplemental oxygen available for each crew member must not be
less than the flow required to maintain, during inspiration, a mean tracheal
oxygen partial pressure of 122 mm Hg, up to and including a cabin pressure

3
 Civil Aviation Order 108.26

altitude of 35 000 feet and 95 per cent oxygen between cabin pressure altitudes
of 35 000 feet and 40 000 feet, when breathing 20 litres per minute BTPS. In
addition, there must be means to allow the crew to use undiluted oxygen at their
discretion.
6.3 For passengers and cabin attendants using masks, the minimum mass flow of
supplemental oxygen available for each person at various cabin pressure
altitudes must not be less than the flow required to maintain, during inspiration
and while using the oxygen equipment provided, the following mean tracheal
oxygen partial pressures:
(a) at cabin pressure altitudes above 10 000 feet up to and including
18 500 feet, a mean tracheal oxygen partial pressure of 100 mm Hg when
breathing 15 litres per minute, BTPS, and with a tidal volume of 700 cc
with a constant time interval between respirations;
(b) at cabin pressure altitudes above 18 500 feet up to and including
40 000 feet, a mean tracheal oxygen partial pressure of 83.8mm Hg when
breathing 30 litres per minute, BTPS, and with a tidal volume of 1100 cc
with a constant time interval between respirations. The flow rates and mask
efficiencies specified in Appendix II may be used at cabin pressure altitudes
up to 25 000 feet instead of the above flow rates.
6.3.1 For passengers and cabin attendants using nasal cannulas manufactured under
the name “Oxymizer”, the minimum flow of supplemental oxygen available for
each person at various cabin pressure altitudes must not be less than 0.3 litre per
minute at 10 000 feet altitude, increasing by 0.1 litre per minute for every
2 000 feet up to 18 000 feet altitude.
6.4 If first-aid oxygen equipment is installed, the minimum mass flow of oxygen
available to each user must not be less than 4 litres per minute, STPD.
However, there may be a means to decrease this flow to not less than 2 litres per
minute, STPD, at any cabin altitude. The quantity of oxygen required may be
based upon an average flow rate of 3 litres per minute per person for whom
first-aid oxygen is required.
6.5 If portable oxygen equipment is installed for use by crew members, the
minimum mass flow of supplemental oxygen must be as specified in paragraph
6.1 or 6.2 of this section, whichever is applicable.
7 Protective breathing equipment
7.1 Protective breathing equipment must be designed to protect the flight crew from
smoke or toxic fumes and gases.
7.2 Equipment must include:
(a) masks either covering the eyes, nose, and mouth or covering the nose and
mouth with accessory equipment to cover the eyes; and
(b) at least 1 portable oxygen system of the demand type.
7.3 The protective breathing equipment while in use, must allow the flight crew to
use the radio equipment and to communicate with each other, while at their
assigned duty stations.
7.4 The part of the protective breathing equipment protecting the eyes must not
cause any appreciable adverse effect on vision and must allow corrective glasses
to be worn.

4
 Civil Aviation Order 108.26

7.5 The protective breathing equipment must supply protective oxygen of

15 minutes duration per crew member at a pressure altitude 0 feet with a
respiratory minute volume of 30 litres per minute, BTPD. If a demand oxygen
system is used, a supply of 300 litres of free oxygen at 20°C and 760 mm Hg
pressure is considered to be of 15 minute duration at the prescribed altitude and
minute volume. If a continuous flow protective breathing system is used
(including a mask with a standard rebreather bag) a flow rate of 60 litres per
minute at 8 000 feet (45 litres per minute at sea level) and a supply of 600 litres
of free oxygen at 20°C and 760 mm Hg pressure is considered to be of
15 minute duration at the prescribed attitude and minute volume.

5
 Civil Aviation Order 108.26

Appendix II

MINIMUM OXYGEN FLOW RATES FOR FLIGHT

ALTITUDES NOT EXCEEDING 25 000 FEET
WHEN USING MASKS WITH EFFICIENCIES
EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE A 8 B
ORONASAL MASK, THE SCOTT 28302–11
SEMI-DISPOSABLE MASK OR THE K–S
DISPOSABLE MASK

6
 Civil Aviation Order 108.26

Notes to Civil Aviation Order 108.26

Note 1
The Civil Aviation Order (in force under the Civil Aviation Act 1988) as shown in this compilation
comprises Civil Aviation Order 108.26 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Orders

Year and Date of notification Date of Application,

number in Gazette/ commencement saving or
registration on FRLI transitional
provisions
CAO 2004 No. 23 December 2004 23 December 2004
R95 (see s. 2)
CAO 108.26 2007 FRLI 2 November 2007 3 November 2007
No. 1 (see s. 2)

Table of Amendments
ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected How affected

s. 108.26 rs. CAO 2004 No. R95
subs. 6 am. CAO 108.26 2007 No.1