Over the past 10 years, there have been a number of important advances in home oxygen technologies, many of which have changed the way home oxygen is provided and how users live with it. Arguably one of the more notable events has been the introduction of the portable oxygen concentrator (POC). The POC is unique because it is the first self-contained, portable, self-generating oxygen technology. While there are numerous lightweight and highly ambulatory oxygen devices, only the POC blends the safe, efficient, effective oxygen production abilities of a concentrator with the portability of an ambulatory, small cylinder or liquid vessel. It is this combination of features and benefits that led to the approval of POCs on board commercial aircraft.

On July 12, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 106 in the Federal Register (vol 70, no. 132). The regulation delivered the rules governing the use of POCs on board aircraft to the airlines, passengers, and oxygen device manufacturers. This important rule became effective in August 2005, and in the short time since its implementation, it has changed the lives of home oxygen users and the companies that serve them. It is estimated that 20% of Americans 55 and older are regular air travelers. Conservative estimates suggest the approval of POCs will add more than 50,000 new air travelers annually. As more long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) travelers hit the skies, clinicians can expect more questions regarding the effects of altitude on persons with lung disease and those requiring supplemental oxygen at ground level.