2024-28514. Revision of Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Federal Flight Deck Officer Program

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Department of Homeland Security

Transportation Security Administration

AGENCY:

Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION:

30-day notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0011, abstracted below to OMB for review and approval of a revision of the currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The collection requires interested volunteers to fill out an application to determine their suitability for participating in the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program, and deputized FFDOs to submit written reports of certain prescribed incidents.

DATES:

Send your comments by January 6, 2025. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES:

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christina A. Walsh, TSA PRA Officer Information Technology, TSA-11, Transportation Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, ( print page 97061) Springfield, VA 20598-6011; telephone [phone]; email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments, of the following collection of information on September 27, 2024, 89 FR79304. TSA did not receive any comments on the notice.

Comments Invited

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The ICR documentation will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. Therefore, in preparation for OMB review and approval of the following information collection, TSA is soliciting comments to—

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

Title: Federal Flight Deck Officer Program.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

OMB Control Number: 1652-0011.

Forms(s): N/A.

Affected Public: Volunteer pilots, flight engineers, and navigators.

Abstract: The FFDO Program enables TSA to screen, select, train, deputize, and supervise qualified pilots, flight engineers, and navigators who voluntarily agree to defend the flight decks of commercial passenger and all-cargo airliners against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. Information collected as the result of this proposal is used to assess the eligibility and suitability of prospective and current FFDOs, to ensure the readiness of every FFDO, to administer the program, and for security purposes. The program also includes the requirement for FFDOs to report prescribed incidents to TSA. These reportable incidents include, but are not limited to, the discharge or drawing of a weapon, any attacks or attempted attacks on the flight deck, and the loss or damage of any weapon/ammunition. TSA is revising the collection by discontinuing the TSA verbal interview and enabling online submission of answers to certification questions.

Estimated Annual Respondents: 1,700.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,700.

Dated: December 2, 2024.

Christina A. Walsh,

TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.