There is new training out there not requiring the use of the chamber. Not sure exactly how it works, but several guys in my unit have done it. I imagine it involves controlled exposure to a low oxygen environment. In any case, some sort of high altitude training should be required for anyone operating a pressurized airplane. Learning to recognize your own symptoms (everyone's are slightly different) to hypoxia is an eye opening experience.

The training could be accomplished easily with a mask and supply of air with adjustable O2...a bottle of N2, and bottle of O2, and a valve to adjust the ratio. You'd breathe sea-level "air", but with less-than-normal O2.

This is not *quite* the same as a real rapid decompression since there is no chance of DCS, but it would certainly give you the same O2 partial-pressure cognitive effects.

Correct, and as always, obey the TCAS.

So a few guys here are jumping out with their shpiels about saving lives and PIC authority, etc.

What I think they're failing to realize is the difference between a Rapid D and a Slow D. Improperly handled the latter is deadlier than the former. I've had the privelege of experiencing the Slow version in the airplane and it can be quite confusing. Finally don't forget this is a "private pilot"... Aka the "more money than brains club" (similar to many of the warbird enthusiasts), don't expect anything more than a confused reponse to any problem they're faced with.

Good point.

Really??? :(:mad:

Yes really. I'm not talking about the ratings he had or the airplanes he's flown I'm talking about the fact that this was primarily a weekend warrior, the guys who get in the most trouble when they try to do what professionals do on a daily basis. And that is not something that only applies to aviation, it's equally valid for any other amount of activities that an amateur knows just enough about to be dangerous.

I would generally agree with the above, the "confused response to any problem" I thought was painted with a broad brush.

There are "professionals" who have pulled when they should have pushed, or had been focused on a burnt bulb and had the same result as this couple.

That's a whole other problem. And it's only an expectation, if they surprise you and do the right thing that's good, but expect the worst. In this case he most likely fit that expectation pretty well.

This guy has many thousands of hours in this type of airplane alone, supposedly just completed recurrent a week or two ago, and is the President of the TBMOPA. Your comment about the responses of non-professional pilots is far to broad a brush to paint with.

Particularly when there are professional pilots who would ham fist the identical situation. There are lesson to be learned and opportunities to improve equipment. Judgements can wait.