2019-09499. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Small Unmanned Aircraft Registration System (sUAS)

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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renewal approval for information collection 2120-0765. Aircraft registration is necessary to ensure personal accountability among all users of the national airspace system. Aircraft registration also allows the FAA and law enforcement agencies to address non-compliance by providing the means for identifying an aircraft's owner and operator. This collection also permits individuals to de-register or update their record in the registration database.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by July 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Please send written comments:

By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into search field).

By mail: Ken Thompson, Manager, Aircraft Registration Branch, AFB-710, P.O. Box 25504, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

By fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bonnie Lefko at: [e-mail]; or by 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. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

OMB Control Number: 2120-0765.

Title: Small Unmanned Aircraft Registration System (sUAS).

Form Numbers: None.

Type of Review: Renewal of existing collection.

Background: The Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) affirmed that all unmanned aircraft, including model aircraft, are aircraft. As such, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 44101(a) and as further prescribed in 14 CFR part 48, registration is required prior to operation. See 80 FR 63912, 63913 (October 22, 2015). Aircraft registration is necessary to ensure personal accountability among all users of the national airspace system. Aircraft registration also allows the FAA and law enforcement agencies to address non-compliance by providing the means for identifying an aircraft's owner and operator.

Subject to certain exceptions discussed below, aircraft must be registered prior to operation. See 49 U.S.C. 44101-44103. Upon registration, the Administrator must issue a certificate of registration to the aircraft owner. See 49 U.S.C. 44103.

Registration, however, does not provide the authority to operate. Persons intending to operate a small unmanned aircraft must operate in accordance with section 336 of Public Law 112-95, part 107 or part 91, in accordance with a waiver issued under part 107, in accordance with an exemption issued under 14 CFR part 11 (including those persons operating under an exemption issued pursuant to section 333 of Public Law 112-95), or in conjunction with the issuance of a special airworthiness certificate, and are required to register.

Respondents: Approximately 300,000 affected sUAS registrations and 14,000 de-registrations annually.

Frequency: Information is collected on occasion.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes per response to register and 3 minutes per response to de-register.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: Approximately 51,000 hours.

Issued in Oklahoma City, OK on May 3, 2019.

John W. Peebles,

Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Civil Aviation Registry, AFB-700.