2024-22124. Intent to Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Federal Flight Deck Officer Program

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Department of Homeland Security

Transportation Security Administration

AGENCY:

Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION:

60-Day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0011, that we will submit to OMB for an extension in compliance with 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 qualification for participating in the ( print page 79305) Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program.

DATES:

Send your comments by November 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be emailed to [e-mail] or delivered to the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology (IT), TSA-11, Transportation Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, VA 20598-6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christina A. Walsh at the above address, or by telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

OMB Control Number 1652-0011; Federal Flight Deck Officer Program. TSA initially required this information collection under the authority of the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act (APATA), which was enacted as title XIV, section 1402(a) of the Homeland Security Act (Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, 2300, Nov. 25, 2002), as amended by title VI, section 609(b) of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Vision 100) (Pub. L. 108-176, 117 Stat. 2489, 2570, Dec. 12, 2003), as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44921. TSA is seeking to renew this information collection to continue collecting the information described in this notice to comply with its statutory mission. The APATA required TSA to establish a program to deputize volunteer pilots of passenger air carriers as Federal law enforcement officers to defend the flight deck of their aircraft against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. With the enactment of Vision 100, eligibility to participate in the FFDO program expanded to include pilots of all-cargo aircraft, as well as flight engineers and navigators on both passenger and cargo aircraft.

To screen volunteers for entry into the FFDO program, TSA collects information from applicants, including name, address, prior address information, personal references, criminal history, limited medical information, financial information, and employment information, through comprehensive applications they submit to TSA.

TSA is revising the collection by discontinuing the TSA verbal interview and enabling online submission of answers to certification questions. TSA previously verbally interviewed each applicant who completed the questionnaire to certify their compliance with the FFDO program requirements. In lieu of a verbal interview, TSA has now added these certification questions to the “Certification and Release of Information” section of the questionnaire, allowing all the required information to be completed during the online application process. This revision reduces the burden to the collection by removing the burden time to complete the TSA verbal interview. In addition, the change eliminates duplication of certain questions that had been asked in the TSA verbal interview that were identical to questions asked by the background investigators who later interview applicants.

Based on the average number of new applicants to the FFDO program, TSA estimates a total of 1,700 respondents annually. TSA estimates that the online application will take one hour for each applicant to complete for a total burden of 1,700 hours.

Dated: September 23, 2024.

Christina A. Walsh,

TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.