Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS (Part of Safran Aerosystems) (Formerly Known as Air Liquide) Portable Breathing Equipment (PBE)

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9137-9140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03799]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-0744; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00001-Q; 
Amendment 39-23258; AD 2026-03-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS 
(Part of Safran Aerosystems) (Formerly Known as Air Liquide) Portable 
Breathing Equipment (PBE)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS portable breathing 
equipment (PBE). This AD was prompted by reports of occurrences of PBE 
not delivering oxygen once donned. This AD requires replacing affected 
PBE and prohibits the installation of affected PBE. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 12, 2026.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of March 12, 
2026.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 13, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0744; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material 
identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 
Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]. 
You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    <bullet> For Safran Aerosystems material identified in this AD, 
contact Safran Aerosystems, Customer Support & Services, Technical 
Publication Department, 61 Rue Pierre Curie, CS20001, 78373 Plaisir 
Cedex, France; phone: + 33 (0)1 61 34 23 23; email: [email protected]; website: www.safran-aerosystems.com.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0744.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harjot Rana, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-
228-7344; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments using a method listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2026-0744; Project 
Identifier MCAI-2026-00001-Q'' at the beginning of your comments. The 
most helpful comments reference a specific portion of

[[Page 9138]]

the final rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by 
the closing date and may amend this final rule because of those 
comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Harjot 
Rana, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7344; email: [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2025-0297, dated December 23, 2025 
(EASA AD 2025-0297) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an 
unsafe condition for certain Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS 
PBE. The MCAI states there have been occurrences of PBE not delivering 
oxygen once donned. Following investigation, a manufacturing issue has 
been identified, affecting certain PBE. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could lead to flight or cabin crewmember incapacitation, 
possibly affecting crewmember capability to accomplish tasks during an 
emergency, or resulting in fatal injury to that crewmember.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0744.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0297, which specifies procedures for 
replacing affected PBE and prohibiting the installation of affected 
PBE. EASA AD 2025-0297 also allows deferring the requirements as 
specified in the applicable aircraft master minimum equipment list 
(MMEL) under certain conditions. EASA AD 2025-0297 also mandates a life 
limit for the affected PBE.
    The FAA also reviewed Appendix A of Safran Aerosystems Service 
Bulletin 1540F-35-002, Revision 01, dated January 5, 2026, which 
identifies the affected PBE. (The affected PBE are listed in an xlsx 
file, modified January 5, 2026, 8:51 p.m. UTC+01:00, which is digitally 
attached to the Safran service bulletin as the content of Appendix A.)
    This material is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority 
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition 
described in the MCAI and material referenced above. The FAA is issuing 
this AD after determining that the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same 
type design.

Requirements of This AD

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 
2025-0297 described previously, except for any differences identified 
as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD. See ``Clarification of 
Required Actions in the MCAI'' for a discussion of the general 
differences included in this AD.

Clarification of Required Actions in the MCAI

    Although paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0297 provides compliance 
times (i.e., 14 days or 3 months, as applicable) to replace affected 
PBE, paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0297 mandates a life limit for the 
affected PBE. The affected PBE have a life limit of 10 years (120 
months). The life limit in paragraph (4) of the EASA AD 2025-0297 takes 
precedence over the compliance times in paragraph (1) of the EASA AD 
2025-0297 (i.e., you do not get to use the 14 day or 3-month compliance 
time for replacement if the affected PBE is over the life limit). 
Therefore, the FAA has added paragraph (h)(3) to this AD to clarify the 
required actions.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation 
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance 
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been 
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, 
EASA AD 2025-0297 is incorporated by reference in this AD. This AD 
requires compliance with EASA AD 2025-0297 in its entirety through that 
incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in 
the regulatory text of this AD. Using common terms that are the same as 
the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2025-0297 does not mean 
that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where 
the AD requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance 
times,'' compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the 
section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 
2025-0297. Material required by EASA AD 2025-0297 for compliance will 
be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0744 after 
this AD is published.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment 
procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds that 
those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this

[[Page 9139]]

rule because there are reports of occurrences of PBE not delivering 
oxygen once donned, which could lead to flight or cabin crewmember 
incapacitation, possibly affecting crewmember capability to accomplish 
tasks during an emergency, or resulting in fatal injury to that 
crewmember. The PBE are designed to protect the user's eyes and 
respiratory tract in a contaminated atmosphere, which provides the 
ability to locate and combat a fire, and for the ability for the 
flightcrew to continue to control the airplane. Additionally, the 
compliance time in this AD is shorter than the time necessary for the 
public to comment and for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
    In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days, 
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and 
comment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment, 
RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2,642 appliances installed 
on various aircraft.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Labor cost                      Parts cost            Cost per product      Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.....  Up to $2,500...........  Up to $2,585...........  Up to $6,829,570*.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* It is unknown how many of the 2,642 appliances are still installed on U.S.-registered aircraft as some
  appliances have exceeded the 10-year maximum life limit.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2026-03-09 Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS (Part of Safran 
Aerosystems) (Formerly Known as Air Liquide): Amendment 39-23258; 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0744; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00001-Q.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 12, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Aerospace & Defense Oxygen Systems SaS (part 
of Safran Aerosystems) (formerly known as Air Liquide) portable 
breathing equipment (PBE), part number (P/N) 15-40F-11 and P/N 15-
40F-80, having a manufacturing date between March 2015 and March 
2017 (inclusive), and having a serial number listed in Appendix A 
(modified January 5, 2026, 8:51 p.m. UTC+01:00) of Safran 
Aerosystems Service Bulletin 1540F-35-002, Revision 01, dated 
January 5, 2026. These PBE are eligible for installation on any 
aircraft and may have been installed during the aircraft 
manufacturing process (production line), or in-service modification, 
either through a supplemental type certificate, or using type 
certificate holder (TCH) approved modification instructions, or 
through a non-TCH modification approval.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 35, Oxygen.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of occurrences of PBE not 
delivering oxygen once donned. Following investigation, a 
manufacturing issue has been identified, affecting certain PBE. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to address affected PBE. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could lead to flight or cabin 
crewmember incapacitation, possibly affecting crewmember capability 
to accomplish tasks during an emergency, or resulting in fatal 
injury to that crewmember.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2025-0297, dated December 23, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0297).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0297

    (1) Where EASA AD 2025-0297 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where the definition of affected PBE in EASA AD 2025-0297 
specifies ``having

[[Page 9140]]

manufacturing date between November 2015 and March 2017 (inclusive), 
and a s/n as listed in Appendix A of the SB'', this AD requires 
replacing that text with ``having a manufacturing date between March 
2015 and March 2017 (inclusive), and a serial number listed in 
Appendix A (modified January 5, 2026, 8:51 p.m. UTC+01:00) of Safran 
Aerosystems Service Bulletin 1540F-35-002, Revision 01, dated 
January 5, 2026''.
    (3) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2025-0297 specifies ``Replace 
the affected PBE'', this AD requires replacing that text with 
``Except as required by paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2025-0297, replace 
the affected PBE''.
    (4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2025-0297.

(i) Additional AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or responsible Flight Standards Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j) of this AD and email to: 
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC, notify your 
appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the responsible Flight Standards Office.

(j) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Harjot Rana, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: 516-228-7344; email: [email protected].

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0297, 
dated December 23, 2025.
    (ii) Safran Aerosystems Service Bulletin 1540F-35-002, Revision 
01, dated January 5, 2026, including the Appendix A digital 
attachment, modified January 5, 2026, 8:51 p.m. UTC+01:00.
    (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, 
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 
8999 000; email [email protected]. You may find this material on 
the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) For Safran Aerosystems material identified in this AD, 
contact Safran Aerosystems, Customer Support & Services, Technical 
Publication Department, 61 Rue Pierre Curie, CS20001, 78373 Plaisir 
Cedex, France; phone: + 33 (0)1 61 34 23 23; email: [email protected]; website: www.safran-aerosystems.com.
    (5) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 206-231-3195.
    (6) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on February 23, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03799 Filed 2-23-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

The complete text was extracted from the official GovInfo HTML edition for this publication. Acquired 2026-10-09T00:51:10.913587+00:00. Text extraction preserves the recorded source wording; it does not determine current requirements.

Open the captured official edition

Source SHA-256

56e2641ce9cdd6c38ab50ea7d226058046091334ebc7ed6082d30657601d667a

Text SHA-256

aac785a5238a476bcea11be11c65b3ab675d7a503f9e7c3da2efed11ffa98117