FAA Mandates Fixes for Airplane Oxygen Gear Safety
Published Date: 12/9/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating rules for aircraft using certain Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS breathing gear to fix safety issues caused by wrong usage. Starting December 24, 2025, operators must follow new steps for putting on this equipment to keep everyone safe. This change affects all planes with this gear and might require some training but no big costs are expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Must update PBE donning procedures
If your aircraft is equipped with Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS portable breathing equipment (P/N 15-40F-11 or P/N 15-40F-80), you must revise your maintenance or inspection program to incorporate the revised donning procedures within 30 days after December 24, 2025. The FAA estimates about 80,000 appliances are affected and estimates one work-hour per appliance at $85 each (no parts cost), with a reported total cost on U.S. operators of up to $6,800,000.
Pilots may record compliance themselves
If you own a non-transport category aircraft and hold at least a private pilot certificate, you may perform the required incorporation of the revised donning procedures and enter compliance into the aircraft maintenance records within 30 days after December 24, 2025, under 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The AD explicitly allows this exception to standard maintenance rules for those owner/operators.
Must use approved Safran procedures; no alternatives without FAA OK
You must use the procedures specified in Safran Aerosystems Service Bulletin 1540F-35-001, dated October 10, 2025, to do the required actions. After you incorporate those revised procedures, you may not use alternative procedures unless the FAA approves them as an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) under 14 CFR 39.19.
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