What Happened
New Policy Aims To Reduce Delays And Increase Flexibility
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to simplify in-flight medical kits by replacing the current 64-item checklist with a more flexible, performance-based standard. The new policy would allow airlines to source their own supplies as long as they can provide aid for nine specific medical emergencies, including cardiac emergencies and severe allergic reactions. According to Reuters, the proposal is based on a study of 77,000 in-flight medical emergencies, which found that less than 10% required medical attention on the ground. The change is intended to reduce delays and increase operational flexibility, and was first reported by Unknown Source.