Equipment standards

This regulation sets the technical standards that airline oxygen systems must meet, referencing older Civil Air Regulations (CAR) that specified equipment requirements.

For airlines operating reciprocating (piston) engine airplanes, oxygen equipment must meet standards from 1950 CAR section 4b.651. For turbine-powered airplanes, the standards are from the 1958 version of the same CAR section. These historical references ensure oxygen apparatus, flow rates, and supply quantities comply with the oxygen requirements in §§ 121.327, 121.329, and 121.333.

If an airline can demonstrate that full compliance with these older standards is impractical, the FAA Administrator may approve alternative standards that provide equivalent safety. This flexibility allows for technological advances or unique aircraft configurations while maintaining safety levels.

In practice, this regulation establishes the baseline technical specifications for airline oxygen systems, though most modern aircraft already exceed these decades-old minimum standards.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*