FAA proposes giving airlines flexibility on flight emergency medical kits
XLI•Medication shortages and exemption history
Medication shortages occasionally affect airlines' abilities to acquire an adequate supply for emergency kits. Incomplete kits prevent an airline from operating a flight, but airlines can petition for an FAA exemption.
The FAA agreed in 2013 to an exemption because of a dextrose shortage. The medicine is used to treat severe, life-threatening hypoglycemia. Under the new rules if finalized airlines could have found a replacement for Dextrose without seeking an exemption.
FAA proposes performance-based medical kit standards
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday proposed giving airlines flexibility in requirements for emergency medical kits on commercial flights.
The FAA is proposing moving from a prescriptive checklist of medical items and instead setting performance-based standards requiring carriers to have sufficient resources to manage nine life-threatening conditions.
