2018-12618. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

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 an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 30, 2018. Aircraft Operators seeking operational approval to conduct Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) operations must submit application to the FAA.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by July 12, 2018.

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.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara Hall at [phone], or by email at: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 2120-0679.

Title: Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum.

Form Numbers: N/A.

Type of Review: Renewal.

Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 30, 2018 (83 FR 13810). Aircraft operators seeking operational approval to conduct RVSM operations within the 48 contiguous states of the United States (U.S.), Alaska, and that portion of the Gulf of Mexico where the FAA provides air traffic services must submit their application to the Certificate Holding District Office (CHDO). The CHDO registers RVSM approved airframes in the FAA RVSM Approvals Database to track the approval status for operator airframes. Application information includes evidence of aircraft equipment and RVSM qualification information along with operational training and program elements.

Respondents: Operators wishing to operate in RVSM airspace are required to submit application to the FAA. The FAA estimates processing 1,426 initial applications annually and 3,330 updates to existing approvals.

Frequency: An operator must make application for initial approval to operate in RVSM airspace, or whenever requesting an update to an existing approval.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 4.00 hours for updates to existing applications and 6.8 hours for application for initial approvals.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 23,017 hours.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2018.

Barbara Hall,

FAA Information Collection Clearance Officer, IT Enterprises Business Services Division, ASP-110.