2013-18290. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Helicopter Air Ambulance Operator Reports

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 for a new information collection. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 included a mandate to begin collection of operational data from Air Ambulance operators. FAA is to summarize the data and report to Congress no later than February 14, 2014, and annually thereafter.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by September 30, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy DePaepe at [phone], or by email at: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 2120-XXXX.

Title: Helicopter Air Ambulance Operator Reports.

Form Numbers: There are no FAA forms associated with this collection.

Type of Review: Clearance of a new information collection.

Background: The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 mandates that all helicopter air ambulance operators must begin reporting the number of flights and hours flown, along with other specified information, during which helicopters operated by the certificate holder were providing helicopter air ambulance services. The helicopter air ambulance operational data provided to the FAA will be used by the agency as background information useful in the development of risk mitigation strategies to reduce the currently unacceptably high helicopter air ambulance accident rate, and to meet the mandates set by Congress.

Respondents: 73 helicopter air ambulance certificate holders.

Frequency: Information is collected quarterly.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 6 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,352 hours.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to the FAA at the following address: Ms. Kathy DePaepe, Room 126B, Federal Aviation Administration, AES-200, 6500 S. MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73169.

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.

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2013.

Albert R. Spence,

FAA Assistant Information Collection Clearance Officer, IT Enterprises Business Services Division, AES-200.