E8-15441. Notice of Interim Operating Authority Granted to Commercial Air Tour Operators Over National Parks and Tribal Lands Within or Abutting National Parks

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

On October 25, 2002, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the final rule for Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations part 136, National Parks Air Tour Management (67 FR 65662). The rule became effective on January 23, 2003. On January 27, 2005, the FAA published a notice of opportunity for commercial air tour operators granted interim operating authority (IOA) under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (the Act) to review and self correct annual authorizations (70 FR 3972). The results were published by operator in the Federal Register on Thursday, June 23, 2005, (70 FR 36456). The comment due date was set for 70 FR 36456 and the IOA republished in the Federal Register on Friday, October 7, 2005 by park instead of by operator (70 FR 58778). This Notice is pursuant to the review and accepting of five (5) New Entrant applications and seeks public comment regarding this matter from interested parties.

DATES:

Comments must be received by the FAA by August 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Comments must be identified by Docket Number FAA-2008-0713 using the following method:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman R. Elrod, Air Transportation Division, 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-250, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone [phone]; e-mail [e-mail], or, Edwin D. Miller, Air Transportation Division, 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-250, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone [phone]; e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Provision(s) for new entrant air tour operators are specified in Section 803 of the Act under (c) Interim Operating Authority, (3) New entrant air tour operators (A), (B), & (C). The five new entrants seeking IOA are listed below:

Operator name	DBA	National park unit/Abutting tribal land	IOA
Kanab, Utah Air Service	NA	Zion NP	120
		Bryce Canyon NP	120
		Rainbow Bridge NM	120
		Canyon Lands NP	120
		Arches NP	120
		Cedar Breaks NM	120
Mauiscape Helicopters	NA	Haleakala NP	4,140
Skycraft Air Service	NA	Volcanoes NP	600
Wings Air	NA	Statue of Liberty NM	1,500
Zip Aviation	NA	Statue of Liberty NM	12,000

Discussion

The operators cited above applied for New Entrant IOA between January of 2003 and November 2005. The FAA, having evaluated the applications, is now prepared to move forward with the application process. This notice fulfills that statutory requirement that mandates the IOA granted under the Act to be published in the Federal Register for notice and opportunity for comment.

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2008.

Gary Davis,

Air Transportation Division, Acting Manager of AFS-200.