2023-27833. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of a Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Extended Operations (ETOPS) of Multi-Engine Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 24, 2023. The collection involves practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over long range routes. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by January 18, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sandra L. Ray by email at: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for FAA's performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information.

OMB Control Number: 2120–0718.

Title: Extended Operations (ETOPS) of Multi-Engine Airplanes.

Form Numbers: None.

Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.

Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 24, 2023 (88 FR 24842). The final rule codified the previous practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over these long-range routes and extended the procedures for extended operations to all passenger-carrying operations on routes beyond 180 minutes from an alternate airport. This option is voluntary for operators and manufacturers. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

Respondents: Approximately 22 Operators and 4 Manufacturers and 6 Future Operators.

Frequency: Information is collected on occasion.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: Burden varies per operator.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 36,214 Hours.

Issued in Washington DC on December 14, 2023.

Sandra L. Ray,

Aviation Safety Inspector, AFS–260.