[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 226 (Monday, November 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67786-67788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25886]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID Number: DOT-OST-2014-0031]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB 
Agency Request for Renewal of a Previously Approved Collection: Airline 
Service Quality Performance--Part 234

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 
(OST-R), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended) this notice announces that DOT is 
submitting a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
renewal of OMB Control Number 2138-0041 covering Airline Service 
Quality Performance, On-time Performance, and Mishandled Baggage 
reports that the largest U.S. air carriers file with DOT under part 234 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). On August 11, 2021, the 
Director, Office of Airline Information (OAI), published a Federal 
Register notice announcing DOT's intent to renew the information 
collections and providing a 60-day comment period regarding the 
information collections. See 86 FR 44137. DOT did not receive any 
comments in response to the August 11, 2021 notice. This notice 
announces an additional 30 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 29, 2021. 
Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this 
proposal.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the burden estimate, including 
suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the Office of the Secretary of 
Transportation, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. Comments may 
also be sent via email to OMB at the following address: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecelia Robinson, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Room E34-410, OST-R, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 366-4405 (voice), 
Fax Number (202) 366-3383 or Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOT collects information regarding flight 
performance and mishandled baggage, wheelchairs, and scooters from the 
largest U.S. air carriers under 14 CFR part 234. The air carriers 
required to provide this information to DOT consist of the U.S. air 
carriers that accounted for at least 0.5 percent of domestic scheduled-
passenger revenues (Reporting Carriers) as most recently determined by 
OAI. An air carrier that is not a Reporting Carrier may voluntarily 
submit the flight performance and mishandled baggage, wheelchairs, and 
scooters information to the Department pursuant to 14 CFR 234.7.
    Specifically, Reporting Carriers must submit Part 234 On-time 
Performance reports to DOT with information on domestic flight 
operations and performance as described in 14 CFR 234.4.\1\ In 
addition, under 14 CFR 234.6, Reporting Carriers must submit Part 234 
Mishandled Baggage reports to DOT that include the following 
information for covered domestic flights: (1) The number of bags 
mishandled in its custody, (2) the number of bags enplaned into the 
aircraft cargo compartment, (3) the number of mishandled wheelchairs 
and scooters mishandled in its custody, and (4) the number of 
wheelchairs and scooters enplaned into the aircraft cargo 
compartment.\2\ Each Reporting Carrier is required to report the flight 
performance and mishandled baggage, wheelchair, and scooter information 
to DOT on a monthly basis for the covered flights it operates and for 
any covered flights held out under the Reporting Carrier's code (as the 
only U.S. carrier code) and operated by a codeshare partner of the 
Reporting Carrier that is a U.S. air carrier. These codeshare partners 
generally adopt the marketing carrier's branding and, thus, are 
referred to as branded codeshare partners.
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    \1\ The format and instructions for reporting this information 
are in Technical Reporting Directive #27--On-Time Performance, 
effective January 1, 2018, available at: https://cms7.bts.dot.gov/sites/bts.dot.gov/files/docs/explore-topics-and-geography/topics/airlines-and-airports/207741/technical-directive-no-27-time-2018.pdf.
    \2\ The format and instructions for reporting mishandled baggage 
and wheelchair and scooter information to DOT are in Technical 
Reporting Directive #30A--Mishandled Baggage and Wheelchairs and 
Scooters (Amended), effective January 1, 2019, available at: https://www.bts.dot.gov/sites/bts.dot.gov/files/docs/explore-topics-and-geography/topics/airlines-and-airports/224606/technicaldirective30abaggage2019amended.pdf.
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    DOT uses the information reported by airlines to provide airline 
performance information and statistics on the BTS website and in the 
Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR), a monthly publication of DOT's 
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP). Air transportation

[[Page 67787]]

consumers and other stakeholders use the information DOT publishes to 
understand and compare airlines' service quality performance, including 
airlines' rates of on-time performance and cancellation, and rates of 
baggage and wheelchair and scooter mishandling.
    DOT's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses data reported by 
airlines in part 234 On-time Performance reports to analyze air traffic 
delays. Wheels-up and wheels-down times are used by the FAA in 
conjunction with departure and arrival times to show the extent of 
ground delays. Actual elapsed flight time (wheels-down minus wheels-up 
time) is compared by the FAA to scheduled elapsed flight time to 
identify airborne delays. The reporting of the aircraft tail number 
allows the FAA to track an aircraft through the air network, which 
enables the FAA to study the ripple effects of delays at hub airports. 
The data can be analyzed by the FAA for airport design changes, new 
equipment purchases, and the planning of new runways or airports based 
on current and projected airport delays and traffic levels. Identifying 
the reasons for delays allows the FAA, airport operators, and air 
carriers to pinpoint delays under their control.
    DOT is publishing this notice to announce that its request for 
renewal of the previously approved information collections described 
above under OMB Control Number 2138-0041 is being forwarded to OMB for 
review and comments. Without further action, OMB authorization of the 
information collections would expire December 31, 2021.
    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing 
regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to issue two 
notices seeking public comment on information collection activities 
before OMB may approve paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 
1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. A Federal agency generally may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is 
generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless 
it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, no person shall generally be subject 
to monetary penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information if the collection of information does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. On August 11, 2021 
the Department published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
soliciting comment on ICRs for which the agency was seeking OMB 
approval (86 FR at 44137). The Department did not receive any comments 
on the 60-day notice. Accordingly, the Department announces that these 
information collection activities have been re-evaluated and certified 
under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval 
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or 
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day 
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 
60 FR 44978, 44983 (Aug. 29, 1995). The 30-day notice informs the 
regulated community to file relevant comments to OMB and affords the 
agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a 
decision. 60 FR 44983 (Aug. 29, 1995). Therefore, respondents should 
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication 
to best ensure their full consideration. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 
FR 44983 (Aug. 29, 1995).
    The title, a description of the respondents, and an estimate of the 
annual recordkeeping and periodic reporting burden for each of the 
information collections for which DOT seeks renewal are set forth 
below:

1. Airline Service Quality Performance Reports--Part 234 On-Time 
Performance

    Respondents: Certificated air carriers that account for at least 
0.5 percent of the domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues are 
required to report flight performance data for the covered flights that 
they operate as described in 14 CFR 234.4; Certificated air carriers 
that account for at least 0.5 percent of domestic scheduled-service 
passenger revenues are required to report this information for the 
covered flights marketed under the carrier's code as the only U.S. 
carrier code that are operated by another U.S. carrier as described in 
14 CFR 234.4; Air carriers may voluntarily report flight performance 
data pursuant to 14 CFR 234.7.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17 air carriers (4 of which market 
codeshare flights).
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 10 hours for each respondent 
to report for the flights operated by the respondent plus an additional 
16 hours if the respondent reports for flights operated by its branded 
code-share partners.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,808 hours (17 air carriers 
reporting the flight performance information for the flights they 
operate x 10 hours per response x 12 months = 2,040 hours) + (4 air 
carriers reporting the flight performance information for flights 
operated by their branded codeshare partners x 16 hours per response x 
12 months = 768 hours). This estimate is based on the following 
information: 17 carriers reported the flight performance data for the 
flights they operated to DOT in calendar years 2019, 2020, and 2021. 
Currently, 4 carriers report flight performance data to DOT for their 
branded codeshare operations.
    DOT estimates that respondents will encounter on average a 10-hour 
burden per month to report flight performance data to DOT for the 
flights they operate. DOT estimates the respondents that market 
codeshare flights will encounter on average an additional burden of 16 
hours per month to report flight performance data to DOT for their 
branded codeshare operations. The burden estimates include staff time 
to manage and process the data and to submit the report through DOT's 
electronic submission system.

2. Airline Service Quality Performance Reports--Part 234 Mishandled 
Baggage

    Respondents: Certificated air carriers that account for at least 
0.5 percent of the domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues are 
required to report mishandled baggage and wheelchairs and scooters data 
for the covered flights that they operate as described in 14 CFR 234.6; 
Certificated air carriers that account for at least 0.5 percent of 
domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues are required to report 
this information for covered flights marketed under the carrier's code 
as the only U.S. carrier code that are operated by another U.S. carrier 
as described in 14 CFR 234.6; Air carriers may voluntarily report 
mishandled baggage and wheelchairs and scooters data pursuant to 14 CFR 
234.7.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 17 air carriers (4 that market 
codeshare flights).
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 10 hours for each respondent 
to report for the flights operated by the respondent plus an additional 
16 hours if the respondent reports for flights operated its branded 
code-share partners.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,825 hours (17 air carriers 
reporting the mishandled baggage and mishandled

[[Page 67788]]

wheelchairs and scooters information for flights they operate x 10 
hours per response x 12 months = 2,040 hours) + (4 air carriers 
reporting the mishandled baggage and mishandled wheelchairs and 
scooters information for flights operated by their branded codeshare 
partners x 16 hours per response x 12 months = 768 hours) + (.00138 
hours for manual data entry related to wheelchair or scooters x 12,000 
manual entries = 17 hours). This estimate is based on the following 
information: 17 carriers reported mishandled baggage and wheelchair and 
scooter information to DOT in calendar years 2019, 2020, and 2021. 
Currently, 4 carriers report mishandled baggage and wheelchair and 
scooter information to DOT for their codeshare operations.
    DOT estimates that respondents will encounter on average 10-hours 
burden per month to report the mishandled baggage and wheelchair and 
scooter data to DOT for the flights they operate. DOT estimates that 
respondents that market codeshare flights will encounter on average an 
additional burden of 16 hours per month to report the mishandled 
baggage and wheelchair and scooter data to DOT for their branded 
codeshare operations. The burden estimates include staff time to manage 
and process the data and to submit the report through DOT's electronic 
submission system.
    In addition, the estimated total annual burden is based on the 
assumption that most respondents employ automated processes to record 
that an item enplaned is a wheelchair or scooter, for the purposes of 
reporting data on wheelchairs and scooters to DOT. For a carrier that 
manually records this information, such as by having their agent type 
information describing a wheelchair or scooter into the airline's 
system, DOT estimates that the airline would spend approximately 5 
seconds (.00138 hours) per item to manually enter the data.\3\ DOT 
estimates that 12,000 wheelchairs and scooters total are recorded 
manually per year.
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    \3\ The Final Rule to Amend Rules Requiring Reporting of 
Mishandled Baggage, Regulatory Impact Analysis, October 18, 2016, 
estimated a data entry burden of 5 seconds per wheelchair or scooter 
recorded manually. See Docket No. RITA-2011-0001-0287.
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Administrative Issues

    The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 
Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501) requires a statistical agency to clearly 
identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. BTS 
hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the 
information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical 
purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both 
respondent's identity and its data, submission of the information to 
agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in 
regulatory and other administrative matters.

Public Comments Invited

    You are invited to comment on any aspect of this information 
collection, including: (a) Whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DOT, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of DOT's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and, (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record on the docket.

    Issued this 17th day of November 2021 at Washington, DC.
William A. Chadwick, Jr.,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology.
[FR Doc. 2021-25886 Filed 11-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P


