Aviator breathing oxygen, analysed to mil-spec in four minutes
Aviator breathing oxygen is a safety-critical supply. The cryogenic oxygen carried in mission-ready aircraft must meet military specification on every fill, because the cost of a contaminated batch is measured in lives rather than recalls. After nearly seven years of engineering development, the U.S. Air Force selected ASTG for its worldwide Aviator Breathing Oxygen (ABO) Sampling and Analysis Program, supporting the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army.
The AirBreather ABO analytical system verifies aviator breathing oxygen to specification in about four minutes, against roughly three hours on legacy equipment. It resolves oxygen purity to better than 99.9% and screens 40 targeted impurities at once.
Request an ABO analysis review
Why aviator breathing oxygen testing is different
Aviator breathing oxygen is regulated to military specification and consumed at altitude, where any contaminant carries directly into the pilot's supply. Legacy testing was slow and handled hazardous cryogenic samples, which limited how and where oxygen could be verified. ASTG was selected to modernise that programme worldwide, raising both the speed and the safety of the test.
How the AirBreather analyses ABO
The system combines FTIR and speed-of-sound measurement with ultrasonic oxygen detection. It resolves oxygen purity above 99.9% and quantifies 40 targeted impurities simultaneously, with the ability to add further compounds of interest. Every result is electronically validated and verified, recorded under a 21 CFR Part 11 module, and issued through the Secure COA certificate-of-analysis module.
| Capability | Detail |
|---|---|
| Analysis time | About four minutes (legacy systems: around three hours) |
| Oxygen purity | Greater than 99.9% |
| Impurities | 40 targeted, measured simultaneously; expandable |
| Techniques | FTIR, speed-of-sound, ultrasonic oxygen detection |
| Sampling | Patented low-pressure cryogenic sampling system |
| Records | 21 CFR Part 11 module, Secure COA certificate of analysis |
| Service | One-year intervals; compressed-air support gas |
Patented low-pressure cryogenic sampling
ASTG's patented low-pressure cryogenic sampling system removes operator exposure to cryogenic temperatures and strips the hazardous-materials classification from collected samples. Laboratories can then ship ABO samples safely worldwide, including regions where previous systems were restricted.
Frequently asked questions
Who uses ASTG for aviator breathing oxygen analysis?
ASTG holds the U.S. Air Force's worldwide ABO Sampling and Analysis Program, supporting the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army.
How fast is an ABO analysis?
The AirBreather ABO system completes a full analysis in about four minutes, compared with roughly three hours on legacy systems, using FTIR, speed-of-sound and ultrasonic oxygen detection.
How are ABO samples collected and shipped safely?
ASTG's patented low-pressure cryogenic sampling system removes operator cryogenic exposure and the hazardous-materials classification, so samples can be shipped safely worldwide.
Download the AirBreather ABO data sheet (PDF)
Related: AirBreather ABO analytical system · Aerospace & defence solutions · Government solutions · ASTG wins U.S. Air Force ABO contract
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Opens in a new window.