2020-01002. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Extended Operations (ETOPS) of Multi-Engine Airplanes

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. A final rule published on January 16, 2007 codified previous practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over long range routes. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by March 23, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Please send written comments:

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

By mail: Sandra Ray, Federal Aviation Administration, Policy Integration Branch AFS-270, 1187 Thorn Run Road, Suite 200, Coraopolis, PA 15108.

By fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Timothy McClain by email at: [e-mail]; 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: 2120-0718.

Title: Extended Operations (ETOPS) of Multi-Engine Airplanes.

Form Numbers: None.

Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.

Background: The final rule codified the previous practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over these long-range routes and extended the procedures for extended operations to all passenger-carrying operations on routes beyond 180 minutes from an alternate airport. This option is voluntary for operators and manufacturers. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

Respondents: Approximately 20 Operators and 4 Manufacturers and 7 future operators.

Frequency: Information is collected on occasion.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: Burden per Operator varies per operation.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 36,536 Hours.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2020.

Sandra L. Ray,

Aviation Safety Inspector, FAA, Policy Integration Branch, AFS-270.