81 FR 70736 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Air Traffic Slots Management

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 198 (October 13, 2016)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FAA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise a currently approved information collection. The FAA collects information to allocate slots and maintain accurate records of slot transfers at slot- controlled and schedule-facilitated airports. The information is provided by air carriers and other operators at all impacted airports.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 198 (Thursday, October 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70736-70737]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24772]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Air Traffic 
Slots Management

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
FAA invites public comments about our intention to request approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise a currently 
approved information collection. The FAA collects information to 
allocate slots and maintain accurate records of slot transfers at slot-
controlled and schedule-facilitated airports. The information is 
provided by air carriers and other operators at all impacted airports.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the FAA at the following address: Ronda 
Thompson, Federal Aviation Administration, ASP-110, 800 Independence 
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591.
    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: Ronda Thompson by email at: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 2120-0524.
    Title: Air Traffic Slots Management.

[[Page 70737]]

    Form Numbers: There are no FAA forms associated with this 
collection.
    Type of Review: Revision of an information collection.
    Background: The FAA has implemented several initiatives to address 
congestion and delay issues within the National Airspace System. The 
FAA has issued Orders limiting operations at John F. Kennedy 
International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport 
(EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). These Orders resulted in part from 
increasing congestion and delays at the airports requiring the FAA to 
allocate arrival and departure slots at JFK, EWR, and LGA. On April 6, 
2016, the FAA announced a reduction in slot controls at EWR and 
designation of EWR as a Level 2, schedule-facilitated airport under the 
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Worldwide Slot 
Guidelines (WSG) based on an updated demand and capacity analysis of 
the airport. This change is effective from the Winter 2016 scheduling 
season, which begins on October 30, 2016. The FAA also has designated 
O'Hare International Airport (ORD), San Francisco International Airport 
(SFO), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as Level 2 airports 
under the IATA WSG. These Level 2 designations resulted in part from 
increasing congestion and delays at the airports requiring FAA to 
implement a voluntary process to manage operational growth at ORD and 
SFO. The Level 2 designation was made at LAX due to a long-term 
construction project expected to reduce runway capacity; therefore, the 
designation is not expected to continue beyond the completion of the 
planned construction at LAX.
    The information is reported to the FAA by carriers holding a slot 
at JFK or LGA; by carriers operating at EWR, LAX, ORD, or SFO; and by 
operators conducting unscheduled operations at LGA. At JFK, carriers 
must notify the FAA of: (1) Requests for confirmation of transferred 
slots; (2) requests for seasonal allocation of historic and additional 
available slots; and (3) usage of slots on a seasonal basis. At LGA, 
carriers must notify the FAA of: (1) Requests for confirmation of 
transferred slots; (2) slots required to be returned or slots 
voluntarily returned; (3) requests to be included in a lottery for 
available slots; and (4) usage of slots on a bi-monthly basis. At LGA, 
unscheduled operators must request and obtain a reservation from the 
FAA prior to conducting an operation. At EWR, LAX, ORD and SFO, 
carriers are asked to notify the FAA of their intended operating 
schedules during peak hours on a semiannual basis. The FAA estimates 
that all information from carriers is submitted electronically from 
information stored in carrier scheduling databases, and that nearly all 
requests for unscheduled operation reservations are submitted 
electronically through either an internet or touch-tone system 
interface.
    Respondents: 200 carriers at various airports; unknown number of 
unscheduled operators at LaGuardia Airport.
    Frequency: Information is collected as needed; some reporting on 
bimonthly or semiannual basis.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 2 minutes per unscheduled 
operation reservation; 6 minutes per notice of slot transfer; 2 hour 
per schedule submission or slot request; and 2 hours per slot usage 
report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5,049.5 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 6, 2016.
Ronda L. Thompson,
FAA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Performance, Policy, and 
Records Management Branch, ASP-110.
[FR Doc. 2016-24772 Filed 10-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P