OxygenToGo Is Poised To Help Airlines Struggling With New Portable Oxygen Concentrator Regulations From The U.S. DOT

OxygenToGo, the leader in direct-to-traveler oxygen services for airlines and individuals, today announced it is poised to help airlines comply with a new regulation requiring all commercial flights originating or departing from a U.S. airport allow passengers to bring and operate a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) on the aircraft. The U.S. Department of Transportation regulation (14 CFR 382 published on May 13, 2008) will take effect on May 16.

Jackson, WYO. (PRWEB) March 6, 2009

OxygenToGo, the leader in direct-to-traveler oxygen services for airlines and individuals, today announced it is poised to help airlines comply with a new regulation requiring all commercial flights originating or departing from a U.S. airport allow passengers to bring and operate a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) on the aircraft. The U.S. Department of Transportation regulation (14 CFR 382 published on May 13, 2008) will take effect on May 16, http://www.regulations.gov, see docket #DOT-OST-2004-19482.

OxygenToGo has trained medical staff, customer service and the latest in POC equipment at-the-ready to assist airlines looking for technical support, crew equipment training, equipment rental, or for a complete oxygen supplier solution. Currently, OxygenToGo works with more than a dozen airlines including Northwest and Frontier Airlines to provide a short-term POC rental program. Travelers in need of a POC or medical oxygen are directed to OxygenToGo via the airline's Web site or customer service staff.

"Portable oxygen concentrators are no longer just something for airlines to talk about. Government regulations are forcing airlines to accept POCs and in the end, provide a safer and more user-friendly solution for oxygen-dependent travelers. By using our complete medical oxygen service, OxygenToGo removes airlines from the hassles, costs and dangers of carrying heavy tanks filled with pressurized oxygen," says Brent Blue M.D., medical director for OxygenToGo. "POCs are lighter than traditional tanks, plus passengers receive consistent oxygen through all of the segments of their trip - on the ground, during airport layovers and delays, in the air and at the destination."

Benefit to Airlines
Airlines may actually benefit from the transition from tanks to POCs. According to calculations by OxygenToGo, POCs reduce the weight of an oxygen-dependent passenger's oxygen equipment by over one hundred pounds on long-haul flights. Since the passenger carries the POC on and off the plane, airlines will no longer need an expensive, error-prone infrastructure to deliver tanks to the cabin.

OxygenToGo Customer Service
OxygenToGo has licensed respiratory therapists and board-certified physicians available at all times to ensure an appropriate match between passenger and equipment, as well as around-the-clock customer support for any technical or medical problems that the passenger may encounter. The POC is delivered to the passenger's home prior to departure, and OxygenToGo bills the fees directly to the passenger, removing the airline from all financial or logistical burdens.

About POCs
A portable oxygen concentrator filters nitrogen out of the surrounding air, providing a concentrated flow of oxygen to the user. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration have approved several models for use onboard commercial aircraft.

About OxygenToGo, http://www.OxygenToGo.com
OxygenToGo provides rentals of portable oxygen concentrators and medical support for oxygen-dependent travelers. OxygenToGo eliminates the hassle of previous systems by replacing large, bulky and often expensive oxygen tanks with much smaller oxygen concentrators that are both FAA and TSA approved. OxygenToGo further relieves stress on the airlines by delivering the POC and its accessories quickly and directly to the traveler from facilities around the world. Currently, OxygenToGo partners with several U.S. and international airlines to provide this complete oxygen service to travelers. To learn more about OxygenToGo's services for airlines, please visit http://www.OxygenToGo.com or call 877-736-8691.

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