Effective June 23, the FAA is eliminating its current rulemaking process for approving passenger oxygen containers (POC) applicable to airline and on-demand charter operations in aircraft with more than 19 passenger seats. The FAA currently assesses each POC make and model on a case-by-case basis, consults with physicians and then conducts time-consuming rulemaking to identify the specific POC model in an FAA regulation. This rule replaces the current process and allows passengers to use a POC on board if the equipment satisfies certain acceptance criteria and bears a label indicating conformance with those criteria.
The labeling requirement affects only POCs intended for use on board that were not previously approved for use by the FAA. Additionally, the agency says this rulemaking “will eliminate redundant operational requirements and paperwork requirements related to the physician’s statement. As a result, this rulemaking will reduce burdens for POC manufacturers, passengers who use POCs while traveling and affected aircraft operators.”
