AN MD-80 CAPT RPTS RECENT CHANGES TO COMPANY THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN BOTTLES SHIPPED IN CARGO COMPARTMENTS APPEAR SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.

Narrative

WHILE PRESENTING AN XYZ FOR SOME DRY ICE ON BOARD; THE GND CREW CHIEF RELAYED HIS CONCERNS ABOUT SHIPMENT OF THE NEW PAX THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN UNITS THAT HE HAD RECENTLY SEEN IN ACFT CARGO COMPARTMENTS. HE SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN THE NEW GREEN CLOTH COVERED UNITS LOADED UNSECURED IN ACFT CARGO COMPARTMENTS AMONG OTHER CARGO AND BAGGAGE; AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY COULD BE SUBJECTED TO DAMAGE OR EVEN BROKEN IF IT WAS CONTACTED BY OTHER MATERIAL IN THE HOLD. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO INSPECT ONE OF THE UNITS ON A JETBRIDGE. THE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY WAS PARTLY PROTECTED BY A METAL 'CAGE'; BUT IT APPEARS IT WOULD STILL BE VULNERABLE TO DAMAGE IF IT WAS STRUCK JUST RIGHT OR HAD A HEAVY OBJECT FALL ON IT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO VISUALLY VERIFY THAT THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN IN OUR CARGO HOLDS; BUT I FEEL THAT THEIR CONSTRUCTION IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH UNSECURED SHIPMENT IN SUCH A MANNER; IF IN FACT THAT IS OCCURRING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT AFTER BEING ALERTED BY THE LEAD MECHANIC A NEW THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN BOTTLE WAS EXAMINED AND DOES NOT APPEAR SAFE WHEN LOADED IN A CARGO PIT. THE RPTR SAID A PROTECTIVE CAGE WAS ADDED TO THE BOTTLE IN THE REGULATOR AREA; BUT APPEARS INADEQUATE AND THE CLOTH SACK DOES NOT PROTECT THE BOTTLE. THE RPTR STATED PRIOR TO THIS NEW TYPE BOTTLE THE BOTTLES WERE SHIPPED IN A PROTECTIVE SUITCASE CONTAINER.