The Hypobaric Chamber

Designed to familiarise flight deck and cabin crew with the hazards and symptoms associated with sudden exposure to high altitude.

Loss of cabin pressure during flight leads to hypoxia – a reduction of the oxygen supply to the brain with the consequential loss of reality and deterioration of mental ability.

In the hypobaric chamber pilots and cabin crews can experience hypoxia to better understand its effects and promote early recognition of one´s personal symptoms.

• Able to simulate altitudes from 0m to 18 000 m (60 000 ft.)
• Holds up to 4 people
• CCTV, computer-aided physiological and altitude monitoring.

Other applications for the chamber include:

• Screening of Pilot and Air crew Applicants
• Medical treatment - Ménière´s syndrome

  The symptoms of Ménière's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, so-called "classic Ménière's" is considered to have the following four symptoms:

  • Attacks of rotational vertigo that can be severe, incapacitating, unpredictable, and last anywhere from minutes to hours, but generally no longer than 24 hours. For some sufferers however, prolonged attacks can occur, lasting from several days to several weeks, often causing the sufferer to be severely incapacitated. This combines with an increase in volume of tinnitus and temporary, albeit significant, hearing loss. Hearing may improve after an attack, but often becomes progressively worse.
  • Fluctuating, progressive, unilateral (in one ear) or bilateral (in both ears) hearing loss, usually in lower frequencies. For some, sounds can appear tinny or distorted, and patients can experience unusual sensitivity to noises.
  • Unilateral or bilateral tinnitus.
  • A sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.

  For some individuals a treatment in the Hypobaric Chamber can be successful. Patiens are subjected to 1000m, 2000m and 2300m for ten minutes each.

  For the majority of the patiens the treatment leads to a higher quality of life.

• Medical evaluations
• Equipment testing

  The Hypobaric Chamber is well suited for testing of equipment made for use in high altitude (low pressure ) areas.

  As an example of this we did a test of a thyristor module that were going to be used near Mexico City in a high altitude area. ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) was conducting the test and they were able to verify the use in it´s intended environment.

• Rapid decompression

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• The Hypobaric Chamber