2021-25979. Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Certification of Airports

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.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by February 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Please send written comments:

By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov. Enter docket number: FAA-2021-1024 into search field.

By email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chel Schweitzer by email at: [e-mail]; phone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

14 CFR part 139 establishes certification requirements for airports serving scheduled passenger-carrying operations of an air carrier operating aircraft configured for more than 9 passenger seats, as determined by the regulations under which the operation is conducted or the aircraft type certificate issued by a competent civil aviation authority; and unscheduled passenger-carrying operations of an air carrier operating aircraft configured for at least 31 passenger seats, as determined by the regulations under which the operation is conducted or the aircraft type certificate issued by a competent civil aviation authority. This part does not apply to: Airports serving scheduled air carrier operations only by reason of being designated as an alternate airport; airports operated by the United States; airports located in the State of Alaska that only serve scheduled operations of small air carrier aircraft and do not serve scheduled or unscheduled operations of large air carrier aircraft; airports located in the State of Alaska during periods of time when not serving operations of large air carrier aircraft; or heliports.

The collection involves FAA Form 5280-1, Application for Airport Operating Certificate. Every airport that wants to become a certificated Part 139 airport must complete this form, as well as provide a draft Airport Certification Manual (ACM). In addition, currently certificated Part 139 airports must maintain their ACM, as well as keep and maintain records related to training, self-inspection, and other requirements of Part 139.

The collection includes an additional automated tool to assist airports in reporting airport status after an incident, or emergency event, has impacted the airport or surrounding area. The Airport Crisis Response Reporting (ACRR) tool simplifies the reporting process by allowing airports to directly input their airport status into the tool.

These records allow the FAA to verify compliance with Part 139 safety and operational requirements to ensure that the airports meet the minimum safety requirements of Part 139, which in turn enhances the safety of the flying public.

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: 2120-0675.

Title: Certification of Airports, 14 CFR part 139.

Form Numbers: FAA Form 5280-1.

Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.

Background: The statutory authority to issue airport operating certificates to airports serving certain air carriers and to establish minimum safety standards for the operation of those airports is currently found in Title 49, United States Code (U.S.C.) § 44706, Airport operation certificates. The FAA uses this authority to issue requirements for the certification and operation of certain airports that service commercial air carriers. These requirements are contained in Title 14, Code of Federal Regulation Part 139 (14 CFR part 139), Certification and Operations: Land Airports Serving Certain Air Carriers, as amended. Information collection requirements are used by the FAA to determine an airport operator's compliance with Part 139 safety and operational requirements, and to assist airport personnel to perform duties required under the regulation.

Operators of certificated airports are required to complete FAA Form 5280-1 and develop, and comply with, a written document, an Airport Certification Manual (ACM) that details how an airport will comply with the requirements of Part 139. The ACM shows the means and procedures whereby the airport will be operated in compliance with Part 139, plus other instructions and procedures to help personnel concerned with operation of the airport to perform their duties and responsibilities.

When an airport satisfactorily complies with such requirements, the FAA issues to that facility an airport operating certificate (AOC) that permits an airport to serve air carriers. The FAA periodically inspects these airports to ensure continued compliance with Part 139 safety requirements, including the maintenance of specified records. Both the application for an AOC and annual compliance inspections require operators of certificated airports to collect and report certain operational information. The AOC remains in effect as long as the need exists and the operator complies with the terms of the AOC and the ACM.

The likely respondents to new information requests are those civilian U.S. airport certificate holders who operate airports that serve scheduled and unscheduled operations of air carrier aircraft with more than 10 passenger seats (approximately 520 airports). These airport operators already hold an AOC and comply with all current information collection requirements.

Operators of certificated airports are permitted to choose the methodology to report information and can design their own recordkeeping system. As airports vary in size, operations and complexities, the FAA has determined this method of information collection allows airport operators greater flexibility and convenience to comply with reporting and recordkeeping requirements. 100% of the information may be submitted electronically.

The FAA has an automated system, the Certification and Compliance Management Information System (CCMIS), which allows FAA airport safety and certification inspectors to enter into a national database airport inspection information. This information is monitored to detect trends and developing safety issues, to allocate inspection resources, and generally, to be more responsive to the needs of regulated airports.

The FAA has developed an automated reporting tool, the Airport Crisis Response Reporting (ACRR) tool, which allows airport personnel to directly input status of their airports after an incident, or emergency event, impacts their airport or the surrounding area.

Respondents: Approximately 520 airports.

Frequency: Information collected on occasion.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 178 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 92,584 hours.

Issued in Washington, DC on this date, November 23, 2021.

Anthony M. Butters,

Deputy Manager, Airport Safety and Operations (AAS-300).