Oxygen analyzers and sensor solutions for composite curing, titanium and superalloy processing, fuel tank inerting, and aviation breathing oxygen systems.
Aerospace, defense, and aviation manufacturing involve some of the most demanding atmosphere-control requirements in industry. Reactive metals such as titanium and nickel superalloys must be processed under low-oxygen inert atmospheres to prevent contamination, composite components are cured under controlled conditions, and onboard fuel tank inerting systems must maintain oxygen levels low enough to prevent ignition during flight.
This application note explains the major aerospace, defense, and aviation processes, why oxygen measurement matters at each stage, and which Southland Sensing analyzers and sensors are best suited for your application.
Why oxygen monitoring matters: Continuous oxygen monitoring helps verify inert atmosphere quality, confirm fuel tank ullage safety margins, validate breathing oxygen system performance, and protect both part integrity and personnel safety across critical aerospace and defense processes.
OMD-675
Measures oxygen down to sub-1 PPM, suited for qualifying inert gas purity in titanium and superalloy processing, glovebox systems, and high-reliability ground-based testing environments.
✓ Sub-PPM Trace Range
OMD-625
Engineered for explosive atmospheres. ATEX & IECEx certified — suited for fuel tank inerting verification, composite curing facilities, and hangar areas where flammable vapors or hydrogen-bearing process gases may be present.
⚠ ATEX · IECEx Certified
OMD-507
Compact footprint with configurable electronics and sensor housing options, suited for direct integration onto composite autoclave gas lines, vacuum furnace backfill monitoring, or test stand instrumentation racks.
OMD-501X
1/4 DIN panel mount analyzer with a remote sensor housing and 72″ cable, commonly used for inert gloveboxes handling reactive metal powders and for permanent installation in process control panels.
Accurate oxygen analysis in aerospace and defense manufacturing depends not only on the analyzer itself, but also on the proper design of the sample handling system. Factors such as sample pressure, temperature, particulate content from composite or metal processing, and material compatibility with fuels or inert gases can significantly impact measurement stability and analyzer performance.
A properly engineered sample system helps ensure the analyzer receives a clean, stable, and representative gas sample under the correct operating conditions. For fuel tank inerting and OBIGGS testing applications, sample conditioning must also account for fuel vapor and varying pressure conditions associated with ground and flight test environments.
Southland Sensing offers application support to help customers properly specify sample systems for demanding aerospace, defense, and aviation applications. Contact the factory to discuss process conditions, gas composition, pressure, temperature, flow requirements, and hazardous-area considerations to ensure the analyzer system is properly configured for your installation.
Fixed ambient monitors should be installed at low-level points in any enclosed manufacturing area or test cell where bulk inert purge gases such as nitrogen or argon are used. Our monitors provide continuous room-air O₂ measurement with audible and visual alarms at user-configurable setpoints (typically 20.0% and 19.5% O₂) to help protect personnel.
Refer to our O₂ Sensor Compatibility Guide to confirm the correct sensor for your analyzer model and process application.
Yes. Our analyzers are well suited for verifying nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) purity during ground testing of onboard inert gas generation systems. Please contact our applications team to discuss your specific pressure, flow, and certification requirements.
Yes. Our electrochemical sensors are designed and tested for use in inert gas backgrounds such as argon and nitrogen, common in titanium and nickel superalloy heat treating and welding, from below 1 part-per-million oxygen up to percent-level concentrations.
Yes. The OMD-625 carries ATEX and IECEx certification, making it suitable for hazardous-area monitoring in hangar facilities, composite curing operations, and other points where flammable vapors or process gases may be present.
Many of our analyzers can be supplied with calibration certificates and material documentation to support customer quality requirements. Please contact our sales team to discuss specific certification or traceability needs for your program.
Sensor life is typically 24 – 60 months under most industrial conditions, however specific process temperatures and duty cycles can affect sensor life. We recommend an annual sensor audit and keeping one spare per analyzer for unplanned replacements. Swap-out is tool-free and takes under a few minutes.
Reliable oxygen monitoring is not optional in aerospace, defense, and aviation manufacturing — it protects part integrity, confirms atmosphere and fuel system safety, ensures process consistency, and keeps personnel safe. Southland Sensing offers a complete range of instruments for every point in the aerospace and defense process.
Our application engineers assist with sensor selection, installation, and hazardous area questions.
Our application engineers are available to assist with sensor selection, installation guidance, and hazardous area classification questions for your hydrogen production system.
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