Hypoxia Risk Prevention: Training now available to all aeronautical professionals and high-altitude specialists.
Hypoxia remains one of the most underestimated risks in altitude environments, whether in civil aviation, flight testing, or high-mountain activities. Insidious, progressive, and sometimes difficult to detect, it rapidly impairs cognitive and decision-making abilities, to the point of jeopardizing operational safety
Drawing on its expertise in extreme environments, COMEX is now expanding access to its “Hypoxia Risk Awareness“ training course, initially developed in collaboration with EPNER, the French military test pilot school.
The training is now open to private pilots, airlines, commercial flight crews, instructors, as well as professionals exposed to altitude, particularly in the fields of mountaineering and high-altitude expeditions.
A major issue for aviation safety and high-altitude activities
In both the cockpit and high-altitude environments, the drop in partial oxygen pressure can trigger physiological effects that are often difficult to detect:
- ✓Impaired judgment
- ✓Reduced coordination
- ✓Slower reaction times
- ✓Decreased vision
- ✓A misleading sense of well-being
Each individual reacts differently to hypoxia, making it essential to recognize one’s own early symptoms, a critical factor for aviation safety and risk management.
The training offered by COMEX provides exactly this opportunity, enabling participants to identify their personal warning signs in a controlled and secure environment, supervised by medical specialists.
A realistic training approach combining theory and controlled exposure in a hypobaric chamber
The one-day course follows a comprehensive structure, alternating theoretical instruction with real-world simulations.
The instructional team is composed of COMEX staff for the technical components, and specialists from the Institute of Medicine and Physiology in Maritime and Extreme Environments (Phyrmarex) for the medical aspects.
1. Compréhension du phénomène hypoxique
Participants receive a structured lesson covering:
- ✓The effects of reduced oxygen levels
- ✓Physiological responses,
- ✓LOperational risks in aviation or high-altitude environments
- ✓Prevention procedures and safety guidelines.
- ✓Physiological parameters are continuously monitored (SpO₂, ECG, heart rate)
- ✓Individual symptoms are observed, identified, and analyzed
- ✓The session can be stopped at any time to ensure safety
2. Practical session in a hypoxic chamber
The practical module is the core of the training. Trainees are exposed to a simulated altitude of 9,300 ft (~2,850 m) with a hypoxic gas mixture containing 12% O₂, in an environment that reproduces in-flight conditions.
Under the supervision of a specialized medical team:
This immersive experience enables participants to accurately recognize their own warning signs and develop the correct reflexes for real-life situations.
A training program now accessible to a wide range of professionals
COMEX and PHYMAREX are expanding access to this strategic training program to multiple categories of professionals.
Civil and private aviation
- ✓Private pilots (PPL, CPL, ATPL)
- ✓Airline pilots,
- ✓Instructors and examiners
- ✓Commercial flight crews (cabin crew),
- ✓Technical or maintenance teams required to work at altitude
Airlines and aviation organizations
- ✓Internal awareness training
- ✓Strengthening of aviation safety programs
- ✓Complement to CRM and Human Factors programs
High-altitude activities
- ✓Mountaineers and mountain guides
- ✓Scientific or sporting expeditions
- ✓Professionals exposed to altitude as part of their missions
The objective: to provide each participant with personal mastery of the risk, regardless of their operational context.
Strengthening safety through knowledge
Early recognition of hypoxia is an essential skill, both for aviation safety and for any activity exposed to altitude. Thanks to its expertise, unique facilities, and specialized supervision, COMEX and Phymarex offer immersive training that enables each participant to better protect themselves and act effectively to support collective safety.
To request a quote or schedule a dedicated session for your organization, our training team is at your disposal
Practical Information
- ✓Duration: 1 day (7 hours)
- ✓Location: COMEX Hypobaric Center – Marseille – France
- ✓roup size: up to 8 trainees (10 upon request)
- ✓Prerequisites: medical clearance for hypobaric exposure or a valid pilot/aircrew medical certificate
- ✓Pricing: quotation provided based on company requirements
Training contact:
Ms Anaïs Wackers – contact@comex.fr
A certificate of completion is issued at the end of the session.
