Federal Register #FAA-2026-9178

FAA Proposed Rule: Performance-Based Emergency Medical and First Aid Kit Requirements for Airlines

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under the Department of Transportation, is proposing a rule to modernize emergency medical and first aid kit requirements for commercial airlines. - Government Buyer: - Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of Aerospace Medicine - Products/Services Requested: - Emergency Medical Kit (EMK): - Must contain supplies for medical personnel to treat life-threatening conditions such as chest pain, airway emergencies, seizures, major bleeding, opioid overdose, hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal emergencies, anaphylaxis, and childbirth - No specific part numbers or brands required - First Aid Kit (FAK): - Must provide supplies for injuries like abrasions, lacerations, sprains, strains, and fractures - Number of kits required scales with passenger seat count (1 for up to 50 seats, up to 4 for more than 250 seats) - Automated External Defibrillator (AED): - At least one FAA-approved AED per aircraft, maintained per manufacturer specifications - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Replaces prescriptive kit contents with performance-based requirements, allowing airlines flexibility to adapt to current medical standards and supply availability - Kits must address nine specific life-threatening conditions - Ongoing monitoring and updates required through operators' Safety Management Systems (SMS) - FAA will review and revise EMK and FAK requirements and training every 5 years - No specific OEMs or vendors are named; the rule is product-agnostic and focuses on regulatory outcomes - Affects all part 121 air carriers, including small entities - References FAA Advisory Circulars for compliance guidance

Description

The FAA proposes to revise regulations governing emergency medical kits (EMK) and first aid kits (FAK) on commercial aircraft by replacing the prescriptive list of required items with a performance-based requirement. This change aims to ensure that kit contents are practical and sufficient to address the most common medical emergencies onboard while increasing flexibility for operators. The proposal also removes outdated references to kits modified in 2004 and addresses requirements from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The rule seeks to reduce the need for exemptions and improve the ability of flight crews to respond to medical emergencies effectively.

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