Oxygen Concentrators on Passenger Carrying Aircraft
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration · Jul 22, 1997 · Reference No. 97-0191
Interprets: 49 CFR § 173.159
Reggie’s quick take
A company asked whether its Freedom O2 DC Concentrator, a portable oxygen concentrator, can ride on a passenger aircraft. PHMSA says the unit is not a regulated hazardous material and is acceptable on passenger aircraft. The answer rests on three conditions: the non-spillable battery meets § 173.159(d), the electrolyte will not flow from a cracked or broken battery case at 55°C, and the operating pressure never exceeds 40 psi under § 173.115(b).
Written by AI (Claude) on Oct 22, 2026. Robots make mistakes and leave things out, so the letter below is what counts. Not legal advice.
This is in response to your letter dated June 17, 1997, regarding the carriage of a Freedom O2 DC Concentrator aboard passenger-carrying aircraft under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFRParts 171-180).
In our May 14, 1997 response to you, we indicated that based on information provided to us, the unit described was not a regulated hazardous material and is acceptable for carriage on board a passenger-carrying aircraft if: (1) the non-spillable battery meets the provisions of 49 CFR 173.159(d); (2) the electrolyte will not flow from a cracked or broken battery case at 55°C; and (3) as provided by 49 CFR 173.115(b), the operating pressure never exceeds 40 psi. Based on the additional information provided in your follow up letter dated June 17, 1997, we agree that the Freedom O2 DC Concentrator is not a regulated hazardous material and is acceptable for carriage on board a passenger-carrying aircraft.
A letter of interpretation applies the regulations to the facts the requester described. It isn’t a regulation and isn’t legal advice. The agency’s copy.