# 2026-19584: FAA to Pilots: Fly Higher, Ditch Masks More, Save Operators Money 2026-19584, Flight Operations: Pilot requirements; Use of oxygen, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-09-24, effective Send comments on or before November 23, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19584 - As of: 2026-10-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-19584 - Title: Flight Operations: Pilot requirements; Use of oxygen - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration - Citation: 91 FR 60530 - Published: 2026-09-24 - Effective: Send comments on or before November 23, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-11-23 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AM24 - Last updated: 2026-10-01 ## In one line FAA to Pilots: Fly Higher, Ditch Masks More, Save Operators Money ## Summary The FAA wants to change the rules about when pilots have to wear oxygen masks during flights. Pilots flying commuter, on-demand, and general aviation planes could fly higher without needing to wear masks all the time. These updates aim to make flying easier and cheaper for operators, with comments open until November 23, 2026. ## Abstract FAA proposes to raise the altitudes at which a pilot is required to don an oxygen mask for commuter and on demand operations, as directed by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, and revise the pilot oxygen mask requirements applicable to general aviation operations in pressurized aircraft. The proposed amendments would allow the operation of airplanes at higher altitudes without requiring at least one pilot at the controls to wear and use an oxygen mask. If adopted, these proposed changes would reduce regulatory and economic burdens on operators by changing certain requirements pertaining to pilots' use of oxygen masks. ## Effects PRIA read - Part 135: Two‑pilot mask altitude raised: benefit, medium. If you operate commuter or on‑demand flights under part 135 with more than one pilot on the flightdeck, the FAA proposes changing 14 CFR 135.89(b)(3) so that at least one pilot would only be required to wear an oxygen mask when operating above Flight Level 410 (FL410) instead of the current FL350.… - Part 135: Single‑pilot mask altitude raised: benefit, medium. If you are the only pilot assigned to the flightdeck on a part 135 flight, the FAA proposes changing 14 CFR 135.89(b)(4) so the altitude that requires the pilot to wear an oxygen mask would increase from Flight Level 250 (FL250) to Flight Level 350 (FL350). The NPRM clarifies that this provision ap… - Part 91: Quick‑donning masks allow any‑altitude flight: benefit, medium. For general aviation under part 91, the FAA proposes that if quick‑donning oxygen masks are available to the pilot(s), pilots would be allowed to operate at any altitude for which the aircraft is certified without a pilot at the controls wearing an oxygen mask. If quick‑donning masks are not availa… - Estimated oxygen servicing cost savings: benefit, medium. FAA estimates oxygen tank servicing costs about $100 to $400 per fill‑up. The NPRM states that for every 1 percentage point decrease of the roughly 4.7 million parts 91 and 135 turbojet and multiengine turboprop operations that no longer require servicing due to this rulemaking, operators would sav… ## Related documents - [2026-15585](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15585): Requirements for Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Systems, 2026-07-31 - [2026-13440](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13440): Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight, 2026-07-02 - [2026-13126](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13126): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility; Extension of Comment Period, 2026-06-30 - [2026-08943](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08943): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility, 2026-05-06 - [2025-04846](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-04846): Extension of the Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Territory and Airspace of Libya, 2025-03-20 - [2025-03853](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-03853): Enforcement Policy Regarding “Drug and Alcohol Testing of Certificated Repair Station Employees Located Outside of the United States; Corre…, 2025-03-11 ## Sources - [2026-19584 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/24/2026-19584/flight-operations-pilot-requirements-use-of-oxygen) - [2026-19584 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-24/pdf/2026-19584.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-19579, Substantial Product Hazard List: Amendments to Requirements for Window Covering…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19579) - [Next: 2026-19642, Department of Justice; Response to Correspondence Requesting Rulemaking](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19642) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19584 (as of 2026-10-01).