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A method of operating a life support system for an aircraft, the system including a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each of which in use is operable to supply product gas, which may be pure oxygen or oxygen enriched gas, to a breathing gas supply apparatus, at least one of the oxygen supply ap

A method of operating a life support system for an aircraft, the system including a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each of which in use is operable to supply product gas, which may be pure oxygen or oxygen enriched gas, to a breathing gas supply apparatus, at least one of the oxygen supply apparatus being a main oxygen supply apparatus and the remainder of the oxygen supply apparatus being auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, characterized in that the method includes operating the main oxygen supply apparatus and supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus.

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1. A method of operating a life support system for an aircraft, the system including a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each apparatus being operable to supply product gas to a breathing gas supply apparatus, wherein at least one of the oxygen supply apparatus is a main oxygen supply apparatus,

1. A method of operating a life support system for an aircraft, the system including a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each apparatus being operable to supply product gas to a breathing gas supply apparatus, wherein at least one of the oxygen supply apparatus is a main oxygen supply apparatus, and wherein a remainder of the oxygen supply apparatus are auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the method comprising:operating the main oxygen supply apparatus in a non-emergency situation; and supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus are each a molecular sieve bed type.3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said main oxygen supply apparatus is the molecular sieve bed type.4. The method according to claim 3, said method further comprising:sequentially selecting an oxygen supply apparatus from the plurality of oxygen supply apparatus; and operating the selected oxygen supply apparatus to be the main oxygen supply apparatus. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the molecular sieve beds are opened to low pressure atmosphere at high altitudes.6. The method according to claim 2, wherein, at least one of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus has at least two active molecular sieve beds which when operated are operated in tandem such that while one sieve bed is adsorbing non-oxygen gas from a pressurized gas supply, the other bed is being purged of non-oxygen gas by subjecting the bed to lower pressure.7. The method according to claim 2, wherein, at least one of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus has three molecular sieve beds, the three beds being operated such that at least one of the beds is adsorbing non-oxygen gas from a pressurized gas supply while another of the three beds is being purged of non-oxygen gas.8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus and any ancillary connection hoses are used to store supplied product gas which is immediately available for breathing while the oxygen supply apparatus are brought on line in the event of a demand or an increased demand for product gas.9. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the main and auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus comprises an inlet for supply gas, an outlet for product gas, and a vent used during purging.10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each of said inlets for the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus and the vents has a valve device which is closable while the main oxygen supply apparatus is operate to enable the auxiliary supply apparatus to be filled with product gas for storage when the main oxygen supply is operated.11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:testing a performance of each auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus by sequentially operating each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus; and monitoring at least one of a pressure of and an oxygen concentration in the oxygen-enriched gas supplied in the breathing gas supply apparatus. 12. A method of operating a passenger aircraft in the event of an emergency cabin decompression, the method comprising:operating a life support system, said system having a plurality of oxygen supply apparatus, each apparatus being operable to supply product gas to a breathing gas supply apparatus, wherein at least one of the oxygen supply apparatus is a main oxygen supply apparatus and a remainder of the oxygen supply apparatus are auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus; operating the main oxygen supply apparatus; supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus; reducing flying altitude to a holding altitude of greater than 10,000 feet; and continuing to fly the aircraft at the holding altitude while the passengers are supplied with breathing gas from the life support system. 13. The method of claim 12, the step of reducing flying altitude comprising:reducing flying altitude to a holding altitude of greater than 15,000 feet. 14. The method of claim 13, the step of reducing flying altitude comprising:reducing flying altitude to a holding altitude of between 20,000 and 25,000 feet. 15. A life support system for an aircraft comprising:a plurality of oxygen supply means for supplying product gas to a breathing gas supply apparatus, at least one of the oxygen supply means is a main oxygen supply apparatus, and a remainder of the oxygen supply means is an auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, said oxygen supply means for operating the main oxygen supply apparatus in a non-emergency situation and for supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus. 16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:an ancillary oxygen supply means for use by a crew in the event of an emergency, said oxygen supply means for allowing a supply of product gas from the main and auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus to be used to supplement or replace the product gas supply provided by the ancillary oxygen supply means, but to prevent product gas from the ancillary oxygen supply apparatus from passing into the breathing gas supply apparatus of the main and auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus. 17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said main and auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus are arranged in one of a linear and radial array with at least one of a gas supply inlet and a product gas outlet for each oxygen supply apparatus provided by a common plenum.18. An aircraft having a life support system, the system comprising:a plurality of oxygen supply means, each oxygen supply means for supplying product gas to a breathing gas supply apparatus wherein at least one of the oxygen supply means is a main oxygen supply apparatus, and wherein a remainder of the oxygen supply means are auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, the main oxygen supply apparatus being operable independently of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus, said oxygen supply means for operating the main oxygen supply apparatus and for supplying product gas to each of the auxiliary oxygen supply apparatus.