The FAA has proposed a rule change that would simplify oxygen-mask regulations for Part 91 and 135 operations, raising the altitude at which one pilot would have to wear a mask during commercial operations and eliminating the requirement to wear a mask at any altitude for Part 91 pilots. It comes with a stipulation that quick-donning oxygen masks be available in case of an emergency. Comments on the proposed rule are due November 23.
The NBAA Safety Committee, through the High Altitude Supplemental Working Group, had been urging the FAA since at least 2018 to update these regulations. The requirement to don a mask above certain altitudes is widely recognized as one of the most ignored FAA regulations, and some pilots have even admitted that instead of wearing a mask and using oxygen, they have instead drained some oxygen from their airplane’s tank in case they were confronted by an FAA inspector, to make it look like they were using masks as required. Other, more law-abiding pilots would fly most trips at FL410 (under Part 91) to avoid any disagreements about whether one of the pilots should don a mask.
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