The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to require increased oxygen mask hose lengths in Part 121 cockpits to ensure crew access to emergency equipment.
Safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to require increased oxygen mask hose lengths in Part 121 cockpits to ensure crew access to emergency equipment.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a safety recommendation, designated as A-11-079 and identified by NTSB number ENG10IA029, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive calls for regulatory changes concerning the operational safety of flight crews in commercial aviation environments. Specifically, the NSB urges the FAA to mandate that the length of oxygen mask hoses located within the cockpits of airplanes operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 be increased where necessary. The primary objective of this requirement is to ensure that flight crews can maintain access to all required emergency equipment situated within the cockpit while their oxygen masks are donned. Furthermore, the recommendation extends to allowing access to additional emergency equipment that may be provided by cabin crew through the cockpit door during such emergencies. This measure aims to eliminate physical constraints that could hinder a crew's ability to utilize critical safety resources during an incident.