FAA Caps Airbus Crew at Three to Avoid Oxygen Shortages
Published Date: 4/29/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update rules for certain Airbus A330 planes that use a single oxygen tank for the flight crew. Because the oxygen might run out during long flights with four crew members, the new rule will limit these flights to three crew members and fix oxygen pressure info. Airlines need to update their manuals by June 15, 2026, to keep flying safely without extra costs.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Limit ETOPS-180 to Three Crew
If your airplane is an Airbus A330-200 or A330-300 modified by FAA STC ST04038NY and uses a single flightcrew oxygen cylinder (115 ft³), the FAA proposes to require the Airplane Flight Manual Supplement (AFM-S) be revised to limit ETOPS with 180-minute diversion (ETOPS-180) flights to three flightcrew members instead of four. The FAA estimates the paperwork change costs 1 work-hour ($85) per airplane and estimates 11 U.S.-registered airplanes are affected (total estimated cost $935).
Correct Minimum Oxygen Dispatch Pressure
The proposed AD would require revising the AFM-S to correct and update the minimum flightcrew oxygen dispatch pressure information for the affected airplanes. The change is tied to EASA AD 2025-0047 and is intended to address an unsafe condition that could result in insufficient oxygen during ETOPS-180 operations.
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