ACN 043/20 - APR 2020 UPDATED LOW-PRESSURE CHAMBER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                      CANCEL DATE 01 APR 2021

R 021430 APR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N03710//
ACN 043/20
SUBJECT: UPDATED LOW-PRESSURE CHAMBER TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
A. Coast Guard Air Operations Manual, COMDTINST M3710.1 (series)
1. This ACN announces immediate changes to Low-Pressure Chamber (LPC)
training requirements in REF (A).
2. Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is a dangerous condition caused by a loss
of aircraft pressurization at high altitudes. Hypoxia can cause the rapid
loss of mental and physical abilities of pilots and aircrew which can have
catastrophic consequences. Aviation personnel have historically received
training in the effects of hypoxia by attending LPC training at DoD
facilities.
3. In 2016, the Naval Survival Training Institute directed all Aviation
Survival Training Centers (ASTC) to cease LPC use due to safety risks and
sustainment issues. As a result, the Coast Guard lost the use of these
facilities to meet the requirements in REF (A) for members attending aviation
Class A School or initial flight training. The inability to provide this
training at aviation accession points and the limited availability of
alternate facilities has made it difficult to fulfill the requirement for
initial hypoxia training be completed in an LPC.
4. ASTCs now deliver Dynamic Hypoxia Training (DHT) using the Mask Hypoxia
Trainer (MHT) (formerly Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device or ROBD), or
Normobaric Hypoxia Trainer (NHT) to train all Navy and Marine Corps aviation
personnel in the recognition of altitude-induced hypoxia and the corrective
actions to take if hypoxia occurs. These training solutions cause hypoxia by
increasing the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in the air students breathe as
opposed to reducing the air pressure in an LPC. MHT and NHT training allow
students to experience hypoxia symptoms comparable to those induced by LPC
training while eliminating the risk of decompression sickness or barotrauma
to students and instructional staff. Coast Guard aviation personnel currently
attend DHT as part of initial flight training or aviation Class A School.
5. Effective immediately, the requirement in REF (A) that initial hypoxia
training shall be conducted in an LPC is cancelled. Initial and recurrent
hypoxia training shall still be completed in accordance with REF (A), except
it may now be done using LPC, MHT, or NHT.
6. These changes will be incorporated into the next update of REF (A), which will
be released within the next year.
7. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to COMDT (CG-711) POC:
AETCM Bryan Salazar, Bryan.P.Salazar@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2221.
8. Released by RDML Matthew W. Sibley, Assistant Commandant for Capability.
9. Internet release is authorized.