EAA Sport Aviation - March 2011

aren’t even aware of the potential risk. One silent killer is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO, a byproduct of combustion, is found in aircraft exhaust and can poison pilots in almost any GA aircraft. Pilots are at risk of succumbing to this insidious killer not only when flying, but also while traveling in a vehicle, sleeping in a motel room, and even sleeping at home.

It’s rare that I find a product that’s applicable to 100 percent of pilots, costs little more than an hour of dual in a Cessna 172, and is built in the United States. But the Pocket CO Model 300 carbon monoxide detector is just such a device, and it could save your life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 500 non-fire, unintentional deaths occur each year from CO poisoning, making it the third leading cause of unintentional poisoning death in the United States. In addition, at least 50,000 people a year survive encounters with carbon monoxide poisoning, and 43 percent of poisoned patients still have cognitive problems a year after their encounter.

Carbon Monoxide, a
byproduct of combustion,
is found in aircraft
exhaust and can poison
pilots in almost any
GA aircraft.

In aircraft, approximately one fatal accident per year is attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning, though quite likely it’s a factor in other accidents. Although you can’t see, smell, or taste it, carbon monoxide can make you sick or kill you. The problem is severe enough that the FAA tasked Wichita State University to investigate the problem and solutions. The resulting report, DOT/FAA/ AR-09/49 Detection and Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Exposure in General Aviation Aircraft, includes an evaluation of 43 CO detectors.

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