On 2/26/2010 11:54 AM, Craig Bingman wrote:

I think it is difficult to make categorical statements about what might
have happened differently if supplemental oxygen masks were not depoloyed.
The group of people who fly on commercial airlines aren't exactly NASA
astronauts. There is a huge crosssection of ages and health issues that
are not well sampled by tests performed on 24 year old males in peak
physical condition.

I think one of the main advantages of the masks would be in a case where
there was smoke in the cabin that was causing respiratory distress to
the passengers before they had a chance to land and evacuate.

Pat