83 FR 34911 - Notice of Proposal To Discontinue Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 141 (July 23, 2018)

Page Range		34911-34912
FR Document		2018-15632

The FAA is requesting public comment on the agency's proposal to discontinue the Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 141 (Monday, July 23, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34911-34912]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15632]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0649]


Notice of Proposal To Discontinue Hazardous Inflight Weather 
Advisory Service (HIWAS)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is requesting public comment on the agency's proposal 
to discontinue the Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS).

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by Docket Number FAA-2018-
0649 using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Deliver or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instruction 
for accessing the docket or Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the 
West Building, Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 
DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jeff Black, Flight Service, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20591, Telephone (202) 267-6500; email [email protected].
    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 16, 2018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS) is 
a continuous broadcast of weather advisories over a limited nationwide 
network of VORs that provide pilots with meteorological information 
relating to hazardous weather. Since the early 1980s, the broadcast, 
available in various locations of the contiguous United States (CONUS) 
allows pilots to access hazardous weather while inflight without going 
through a Flight Service specialist. HIWAS was conceived when there was 
a large demand for inflight briefings from specialists and wait times 
could be extremely long. HIWAS alleviated the workload of the 
specialists and helped to reduce wait times for pilots. At that time, 
pilots had no other choice but to contact Flight Service to obtain 
hazardous weather updates for the route of flight. Originally created 
by specialists using scripts, HIWAS is now produced using text to voice 
technology.
    With the advent of the internet and other technology, the demand 
for inflight services from Flight Service specialists has declined. 
Staffing was 3,000+ specialists in more than 300 facilities during the 
early 1980s and now consists of three hub facilities. In 2018, radio 
contacts dropped to less than 900 per day from an average of 10,000 
radio contacts per day.
    Demand for inflight services has diminished since the inception of 
HIWAS while access has never been greater, which indicates that pilots 
are migrating to other means of obtaining inflight weather advisories. 
Currently, multiple sources are available that provide access to 
weather and aeronautical information to pilots in the cockpit, often 
presented in a graphical format, making it easier to visualize what is 
going on along the route of flight. Pilots no longer need to contact a 
Flight Service specialist to adhere to 14 CFR 91.103 and maintain 
awareness of hazardous weather advisories along their route of flight.
    As part of FAA efforts to modernize and streamline service 
delivery, the agency is interested in receiving comments on elimination 
of the

[[Page 34912]]

Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service.
    Dates: Comments must be received by August 22, 2018.

Steven Villanueva,
Director of Flight Service, Federal Aviation Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-15632 Filed 7-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Notices 34911

safety reporting; preparation and Issued in Washington, DC, on July 17, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
retention of manuals; maintenance of 2018. through Friday, except Federal holidays.
current aircraft and pilot records; flight Karen Shutt,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
scheduling; pilot-in-command Manager, Performance, Policy, and Records Jeff Black, Flight Service, Federal
designation; passenger safety briefings Management Branch, ASP–110.
Aviation Administration, 800
(oral and on information cards); [FR Doc. 2018–15728 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am] Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
preparation of proving-test programs; BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267–6500;
provision of drug and alcohol misuse email jeff.black@faa.gov.
education; and various personnel, Issued in Washington, DC, on July 16,
maintenance, and minimum equipment DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
2018.
list documentation. These requirements
help ensure that these operators have Federal Aviation Administration SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
procedures in place to facilitate Background: Hazardous Inflight
[Docket No. FAA–2018–0649] Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS) is a
compliance with the requirements of the
rule. Notice of Proposal To Discontinue continuous broadcast of weather
Information is collected electronically Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory advisories over a limited nationwide
to the extent practicable, and the FAA Service (HIWAS) network of VORs that provide pilots
likewise encourages and facilitates with meteorological information relating
electronic recordkeeping. The FAA uses AGENCY: Federal Aviation to hazardous weather. Since the early
an automated Operations Specifications Administration (FAA), DOT. 1980s, the broadcast, available in
subsystem to issue management ACTION: Request for public comment. various locations of the contiguous
specifications to fractional ownership United States (CONUS) allows pilots to
SUMMARY: The FAA is requesting public access hazardous weather while inflight
program managers. This system allows
comment on the agency’s proposal to without going through a Flight Service
management companies to
discontinue the Hazardous Inflight specialist. HIWAS was conceived when
electronically generate and
Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS). there was a large demand for inflight
electronically sign the management
specifications. Use of this automated DATES: Submit comments on or before briefings from specialists and wait times
system is required for the fractional August 22, 2018. could be extremely long. HIWAS
ownership programs. While legal ADDRESSES: You may send comments alleviated the workload of the
contractual documents, passenger identified by Docket Number FAA– specialists and helped to reduce wait
briefing cards, and certain manuals 2018–0649 using any of the following times for pilots. At that time, pilots had
must be kept in paper form for legal and methods: no other choice but to contact Flight
safety reasons, all other records and • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to Service to obtain hazardous weather
reports mandated by 91K can be created, http://www.regulations.gov and follow updates for the route of flight. Originally
transmitted and retained electronically. the online instructions for sending your created by specialists using scripts,
comments electronically. HIWAS is now produced using text to
The FAA will use the information it voice technology.
reviews and collects to evaluate the • Mail: Send comments to Docket
Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of With the advent of the internet and
effectiveness of the program and make other technology, the demand for
improvements as needed, and ensure Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West inflight services from Flight Service
compliance and adherence to the specialists has declined. Staffing was
minimum safety standards of these Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC
20590–001. 3,000+ specialists in more than 300
regulations.
• Hand Deliver or Courier: Take facilities during the early 1980s and
Respondents: 8 fractional aircraft comments to Docket Operations in now consists of three hub facilities. In
program managers/operators. Room W12–140, West Building Ground 2018, radio contacts dropped to less
Frequency: Information is collected Floor, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. than 900 per day from an average of
on occasion. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10,000 radio contacts per day.
except Federal holidays. Demand for inflight services has
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 1 hour, 20 minutes. • Fax: Fax comments to Docket diminished since the inception of
Operations at 202–493–2251. HIWAS while access has never been
Estimated Total Annual Burden: Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. greater, which indicates that pilots are
13,736 hours, or 1,717 hours per 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the migrating to other means of obtaining
respondent. public to better inform its rulemaking inflight weather advisories. Currently,
Public Comments Invited: You are process. DOT posts these comments, multiple sources are available that
asked to comment on any aspect of this without edit, including any personal provide access to weather and
information collection, including (a) information the commenter provides, to aeronautical information to pilots in the
Whether the proposed collection of www.regulations.gov, as described in cockpit, often presented in a graphical
information is necessary for FAA’s the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– format, making it easier to visualize
performance; (b) the accuracy of the 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at what is going on along the route of
estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to www.dot.gov/privacy. flight. Pilots no longer need to contact
enhance the quality, utility and clarity Docket: Background documents or a Flight Service specialist to adhere to
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

of the information collection; and (d) comments received may be read at 14 CFR 91.103 and maintain awareness
ways that the burden could be http://www.regulations.gov at any time. of hazardous weather advisories along
minimized without reducing the quality Follow the online instruction for their route of flight.
of the collected information. The agency accessing the docket or Docket As part of FAA efforts to modernize
will summarize and/or include your Operations in Room W12–140 of the and streamline service delivery, the
comments in the request for OMB’s West Building, Ground Floor at 1200 agency is interested in receiving
clearance of this information collection. New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC comments on elimination of the

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jul 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JYN1.SGM 23JYN1

34912 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Notices

Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
Service. of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended;
Title: The National Survey of the Use and 49 CFR 1:48.
Dates: Comments must be received by of Booster Seats.
August 22, 2018. Terry T. Shelton,
OMB Control Number: 2127–0644.
Steven Villanueva, Associate Administrator, National Center for
Type of Request: Collection of Statistics and Analysis.
Director of Flight Service, Federal Aviation
Administration.
observed child restraint use data. [FR Doc. 2018–15694 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am]
[FR Doc. 2018–15632 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am] Abstract: The National Survey of the BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Use of Booster Seats is conducted to
respond to Section 14(i) of the
Transportation Recall Enhancement, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Accountability, and Documentation
(TREAD) Act of 2000. The Act directs National Highway Traffic Safety
National Highway Traffic Safety the Department of Transportation to Administration
Administration reduce deaths and injuries (among [Docket Number NHTSA–2018–0034]
[Docket Number DOT–NHTSA–2018–0075] children in the 4- to 8-year old age
group that are caused by failure to use Extension of Comment Period on a
Notice and Request for Comments a booster seat) by twenty-five percent. Previously Approved Information
Conducting the National Survey of the Collection
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
Use of Booster Seats provides the AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department with invaluable information Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
on use and non-use of booster seats, Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for
helping the Department to improve its ACTION: Notice and request for
comments. outreach programs to ensure that comments; Extension of comment
SUMMARY: The Department of children are protected to the greatest period.
Transportation (DOT) invites public extent possible when they ride in motor
comments about our intention to request vehicles. The OMB approval for this SUMMARY: NHTSA is extending the
the Office of Management and Budget survey is scheduled to expire on 5/31/ comment period for the proposed
(OMB) approval to renew an 19. NHTSA seeks an extension to this collection of information titled ‘‘State
information collection. Before a Federal approval to obtain this important survey Data Transfer for Vehicle Crash Data.’’
agency can collect certain information data, save more children, and help to NHTSA published a 60-day notice
from the public, it must receive comply with the TREAD Act requesting comment on this proposed
approval from the Office of Management requirement. collection on September 14, 2018.
and Budget (OMB). Under procedures Affected Public: Motorists in DATES: The comment period for this
established by the Paperwork Reduction passenger vehicles at gas stations, fast collection is extended: written
Act of 1995, before seeking OMB food restaurants, and other types of sites comments must be received on or before
approval, Federal agencies must solicit frequented by children during the time September 14, 2018.
public comment on proposed in which the survey is conducted. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
collections of information, including identified by Docket No. NHTSA–2018–
extensions and reinstatement of Estimated Number of Respondents:
0034 through one of the following
previously approved collections. Approximately 4,800 adult motorists in methods:
passenger vehicles at gas stations, fast • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
DATES: Comments must be received on
food restaurants, and other types of sites www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
or before September 21, 2018.
frequented by children during the time instructions for submitting comments.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
in which the survey is conducted. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251
[identified by Docket No. DOT–
NHTSA–2018–0075] through one of the Frequency: Every other year. • Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket
following methods: Estimated Total Annual Burden Management Facility, U.S. Department
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Hours: 340 hours. of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12–
Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: 140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9
instructions for submitting comments.
$8,276.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
• Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Public Comments Invited: You are Friday, except on Federal holidays.
Management Facility, U.S. Department asked to comment on any aspect of this FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey information collection, including (a) Michael Frenchik, Office of Data
Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12– Whether the proposed collection of Acquisition, Safety Systems
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 information is necessary for the Management Division (NSA–0130),
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Department’s performance; (b) the Room W53–303, 1200 New Jersey
Friday, except on Federal holidays. accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Mr.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ways for the Department to enhance the Frenchik’s telephone number is (202)
Ruby Li, Office of Traffic Records and quality, utility and clarity of the 366–0641. Please identify the relevant
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

Analysis, Mathematical Analysis information collection; and (d) ways collection of information by referring to
Division, (NSA–210), W55–208, 1200 that the burden could be minimized its OMB Control Number.
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC without reducing the quality of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May
20590. Ms. Li’s telephone number is collected information. The agency will 30, 2018, NHTSA published a 60-day
(202) 366–6736. Please identify the summarize and/or include your Paperwork Reduction Act notice
relevant collection of information by comments in the request for OMB’s requesting commenton the proposed
referring to its OMB Control Number. clearance of this information collection. information collection titled ‘‘State Data

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jul 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JYN1.SGM 23JYN1

Document Created: 2018-07-21 00:47:51
Document Modified: 2018-07-21 00:47:51

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Request for public comment.
Dates		Submit comments on or before August 22, 2018.
Contact		Jeff Black, Flight Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-6500; email [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 34911

83 FR 34911 - Notice of Proposal To Discontinue Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 141 (July 23, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration