[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61962-61963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24713]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0690]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Flight 
Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program.

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, FAA 
invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information 
collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on September 4, 2019. The collection involves the voluntary 
submission of information gained through the Flight Operations Quality 
Assurance (FOQA) Program. FOQA is a voluntary safety program designed 
to improve aviation safety through the proactive use of flight-recorded 
data. The information collected will allow operators to use this data 
to identify and correct deficiencies in all areas of flight operations.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of 
Transportation/FAA, and sent via electronic mail to 
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov, or faxed to (202) 395-6974, or mailed to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Ray by email at: 
Sandra.ray@faa.gov; phone: 412-329-3088.

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: 2120-0660.
    Title: Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program.
    Form Numbers: There are no forms associated with this collection.
    Type of Review: Renewal of an Information Collection.
    Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment 
period

[[Page 61963]]

soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on September 4, 2019 (84 FR 46604). Comments were received 
from the 60 day comment period, and the estimated time burden has been 
adjusted to reflect those comments. The number of respondents was also 
updated to reflect the most current number. Flight Operations Quality 
Assurance (FOQA) is a voluntary safety program designed to improved 
aviation safety through the proactive use of flight-recorded data. 
Operators will use this data to identify and correct deficiencies in 
all areas of flight operations. Properly used, FOQA data can reduce or 
eliminate safety risks, as well as minimize deviations from 
regulations. Through access to de-identified aggregate FOQA data, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA can identify and analyze national 
trends and target resources to reduce operational risks in the National 
Airspace System (NAS), air traffic control (ATC), flight operations and 
airport operations.
    The FAA and the air transportation industry have sought additional 
means for addressing safety problems and identifying potential safety 
hazards. Based on the experiences of foreign air carriers, the results 
of several FAA-sponsored studies, and input received from government/
industry safety forums, the FAA concluded that wide implementation of 
FOQA programs could have significant potential to reduce air carrier 
accident rates below current levels. The value of FOQA programs is the 
early identification of adverse safety trends, which, if uncorrected, 
could lead to accidents. A key element in FOQA is the application of 
corrective action and follow-up to ensure that unsafe conditions are 
effectively remediated.
    Respondents: 64 Air Carriers (55 with existing programs and 9 
carriers with new programs).
    Frequency: Once for a certificate holders seeking approval of a 
program, monthly (or less depending on agreement with FAA office) for 
certificate holders with an approved program.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 100 Hours for certificate 
holders seeking approval of a new program, 30.0 hour per year for 
certificate holders with an approved program.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 100 hours per new respondent, 30 
hours annually per existing respondents.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 8, 2019.
Sandra L. Ray
Aviation Safety Inspector, FAA, Policy Integration Branch, AFS-270.
[FR Doc. 2019-24713 Filed 11-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


