2017-11082. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of 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 a previously approved information collection. A final rule published on January 16, 2007 codified previous 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 June 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of Transportation/FAA, and sent via electronic mail to [e-mail], or faxed to [phone], or mailed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ronda Thompson by email at: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY 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 March 14, 2017 (82 FR 13708). 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.

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. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Respondents: Approximately 21 Operators and Manufacturers.

Frequency: Information is collected on occasion.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 7 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 109,382 hours.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 24, 2017.

Ronda L. Thompson,

FAA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Performance, Policy & Records Management Branch, ASP-110.