Resources/FAA/COPD

Visit COPD Foundation

Inova Labs has teamed up with the COPD Foundation which helps educate Patients, Family Members and Loved ones about COPD and the many ways to maintain and improve quality of life. Visit www.copdfoundation.org today.

Patient Tips for flying with the LifeChoice POC

Here are some airline industry tips that would be particularly helpful for travelers:

1. Contact your airline well in advance of your trip and inform them you will be using a FAA approved portable oxygen concentrator, the LifeChoice, on your trip. Ask them what documentation they will require for when you arrive at the airport and, if they need any additional information from the manufacturer to ensure acceptance on the aircraft.

2. Verify your LifeChoice has the required FAA Label on bottom.

3. When you are ready to make your reservation, make sure you tell the agent that you will be using an oxygen concentrator on the aircraft.

4. Check airline requirements to ensure you have sufficient battery time as required (check the batteries, charge before the trip, carry on spares if required.)

5. Get familiar with and understand how your device works, trouble shooting, alarms, etc. The user is the best one to know how to solve a problem as opposed to the Flight Attendants.

6. You must have a letter from your doctor that specifies need as well as flow rate. Check your airline website or call them well in advance for specific letter required.

7. It is recommended you print out the LifeChoice FAA Approval for your records while traveling.

The above are suggestions only and may not be the only information required by your airline. Please visit your airlines websites for additional information for traveling with oxygen concentrators and printout the airlines Oxygen Policies for documentation showing POC's they have approved for in-flight use.

Flight Preparations

According to the DOT ruling, passengers MUST inform the air carrier about the intended use of Portable Oxygen Concentrators on board while making the flight reservation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has established a toll-free hotline, 1-800-778-4838, to assist travelers with disabilities. Also find more information here.

The hotline will provide general information to consumers about the rights of air travelers with disabilities, respond to requests for printed consumer information, and assist air travelers with time-sensitive disability-related issues that need to be addressed in "real time." The line is staffed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week. Air travelers who experience disability-related air travel service problems may call the hotline at 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY) to obtain assistance. As in the past, air travelers who would like DOT to investigate a complaint about a disability issue must submit their complaint in writing or via e-mail.

Demonstration Video - See the Video page of this website.