The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Flight Operations: Pilot requirements; Use of oxygen" on September 24, 2026. The document, identified as Federal Register document 2026-19584, outlines proposed amendments to federal aviation regulations.
The proposed rule aims to raise the altitudes at which pilots must wear oxygen masks during commuter and on-demand operations. This change aligns with directives from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The amendments also revise pilot oxygen mask requirements for general aviation operations involving pressurized aircraft. If adopted, these changes would allow airplanes to operate at higher altitudes without requiring at least one pilot at the controls to wear and use an oxygen mask. The FAA states that these modifications would reduce regulatory and economic burdens on operators by adjusting specific requirements related to the use of oxygen masks.
The proposed rule affects Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), specifically Part 91, which covers operating rules, and Part 135, which governs commuter and on-demand operations. The FAA has established a comment period for interested parties to review and respond to the proposed changes. Stakeholders must submit their comments on or before November 23, 2026. The proposal is associated with Docket No. FAA-2026-12145 and Notice No. 26-17. No effective date has been established for these proposed changes at this time.
Summary written for CheckAero from the official document. It is not legal advice; read the full text before acting.