FAA PROTE Hypoxia Chamber available at NWAC26 Friday through Sunday
Pilots attending the Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show in 2026 will have a unique opportunity to participate in FAA hypoxia awareness training through the Portable Reduced Oxygen Training Enclosure (PROTE).
Operated by the FAA’s aerospace physiology team, the chamber simulates reduced oxygen at high altitudes by lowering the percentage of oxygen in the air while keeping atmospheric pressure at ground level.
Hypoxia — a condition caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood — impairs judgment, motor skills, and cognitive function before a pilot realizes there’s a problem. The onset is subtle and highly individual so many aviators may not recognize their own symptoms in flight. The chamber gives pilots a safe, controlled environment to experience their personal hypoxia signs firsthand.
During a PROTE session, participants breathe simulated “altitude” air that mimics the oxygen content found at altitudes up to the mid-20,000-foot range, allowing them to observe how their performance and mental acuity change as oxygen levels drop. Exercises often include simple tasks designed to highlight declines in cognitive and motor skills, helping pilots link specific symptoms to hypoxic exposure.
By attending a training slot in the PROTE chamber, pilots can better understand how reduced oxygen affects them personally and learn how to take proactive measures in flight — such as using supplemental oxygen and monitoring physiological cues. This experience not only enhances individual safety awareness but also supports broader aviation safety goals by helping pilots recognize and mitigate a real and potentially dangerous in-flight hazard.
Hosted Friday - February 20, 2026 through Sunday - February 22, 2026
Experience hypoxia symptoms while being safely monitored in the PROTE Chamber.
• No-cost, valuable hypoxia training opportunity for qualified pilots! *
• Determine what your hypoxia symptoms are in order to recognize them.
• Important for pilots flying in the high-altitude environment
Participation in the reduced oxygen training enclosure (PROTE) flight will not be permitted if the applicant:
does not hold a valid class I, II, or III FAA Medical Certificate or BasicMed Certification
has an acute respiratory and/or systemic infection
has donated one unit (500 ml) of blood within 24 hours or donated more than one unit of blood within 72 hours of the scheduled training
has consumed any alcoholic beverage within eight hours or is under the influence of alcohol
is less than 18 years of age
PROTE Registration Link - This will take you to the registration website.