Retired from Active Service, Offutt's high-altitude chamber takes her last "flight"

  • Published
  • By David R. Hopper
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  After more than fifty years of service, Offutt's altitude chamber took its last flight and was retired on April 4.

The John Mohr, 20 Man Altitude Chamber was constructed in 1957 using WWII battleship steel, and in its tenure here at Offutt, the high-altitude chamber taught tens of thousands of military and civilian aviators, from around the world, a hard lesson about the effects of hypoxia and the perils of being exposed to low barometric pressure.

Hypoxia is the lack of oxygen in the brain causing severe to total impairment of function. Symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath and mental confusion, are the main culprits that members will feel. As unpleasant as it all may sound, the aerospace and operational physiology units across the Air Force still have a job because it feels good. If being hypoxic felt bad, it would be an easy thing to recognize and recover from and training would be less intense.

"The altitude chamber was created to make aviators aware of their personal symptoms of hypoxia and how to recognize when they are experiencing it, and recover while they still can," said Capt. John Lavin, 55th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Aerospace & Operational Physiology Team flight commander. "The training is also a valuable tool for letting aviators work their way through their symptoms in a controlled and safe environment."

Although the 1950's-era altitude chamber is no longer going to be used, the 55th Aerospace and Operational Physiology Team will still be training Airmen, except now they will use a new system called the Hypoxia Familiarization Trainer.

"The new technology that is replacing [the altitude chamber] is much more realistic," Lavin said. "The aircrew member will be feeling the effects of hypoxia while performing actual aircrew duties."

"This is almost the same environment and task saturation levels they would be in if they were to get hypoxic while flying in an actual aircraft; with none of the dangers of being exposed to low barometric pressures." he said. "Instead of taking 18 people, plus multiple inside observers to altitude, we will place them in a simulator in an office room, attach a mask to their face, and simply have the machine remix the oxygen and nitrogen which will create a hypoxic environment in the safest possible setting."

The benefits of the new system are not only related to the realism of the training.

"Because the new system has a smaller crew foot print, we no longer have to bring in personnel from across Air Combat Command to assist in the training," said Master Sgt. David Boynton, 55th AMDS, Aerospace and Operational Physiology Team flight chief. "This saves the wing on average over $180,000 per year."

"Since we no longer have to bring in additional manpower to perform our mission, it gives us the flexibility to accomplish training on a more frequent basis, and frees up those units that send us our additional manning to be able to accomplish more at their home units. We can't thank all those units across the Air Force enough for supporting us over the last ten years. We literally couldn't have done it without them." he added.

"The drawbacks to the new system can't be found in the technology or cost savings but more of a personally felt loss by our unit, of those great Airmen who brought job expertise, professionalism and positive attitudes to accomplish our mission for the Fightin'Fifty-Fifth and the region of Guard and Reserve units that we support. Those outstanding performers will be sorely missed." Lavin said.

As the 55th Aerospace and Operational Physiology Team close the book on this era and begin anew, their training is still as important today as it was back in 1957. Technology may change but the way the body reacts to hypoxia remains constant and all aviators need to be prepared for the worst case scenario in the safest manner possible.

"The new system will definitely be a great benefit for those who train at Offutt because of the advancement in realism and safety," Lavin said.

The new HFT system is scheduled to be fully operational around the middle of May.