Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed

Approval of Information Collection: Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum

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 information collection. Aircraft Operators seeking specific operational approval to conduct Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) operations must submit application to the FAA. Specific approval is required when aircraft operators intend to operate outside the United States (U.S.) or their aircraft are not equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) Out.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by March 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Please send written comments:

By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into search field)

By mail: Christina Clausnitzer, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, 470 L'Enfant Plaza, Suite 4102, Washington, DC 20024

By fax: (202) 267-8791

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christina Clausnitzer by email at: Christina.Clausnitzer@faa.gov; phone: (303) 342-1965

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: 2120-0679.

Title: Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum.

Form Numbers: N/A.

Type of Review: Renewal.

Background: The authority to collect data from aircraft operators seeking operational approval to conduct Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) operations is contained in Part 91, Section 91.180, as established by a final rule published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2003 (68 FR 61304) and in Part 91, Section 91.706, as established by a final rule published April 9, 1997 (62 FR 17487, Apr 9, 1997). Aircraft operators seeking specific operational approval to conduct RVSM operations outside the U.S. must submit their application to the responsible Flight Standards office. The responsible Flight Standards office registers RVSM approved airframes in the FAA RVSM Approvals Database to track the approval status for operator airframes. Application information includes evidence of aircraft equipment and RVSM qualification information along with operational training and program elements.

Respondents: Operators are required to submit application for RVSM specific approval if they desire to operate in RVSM airspace outside the U.S. or if they do not meet the provisions of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), Part 91, Appendix G, Section 9—Aircraft Equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast Out. The FAA estimates processing 856 initial applications annually and 1,998 annual updates to existing approvals.

Frequency: An Operator must make application for initial specific approval to operate in RVSM airspace, or whenever requesting an update to an existing approval.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 4.00 hours for updates to existing applications and 6.8 hours for application of initial approvals.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 13,813 hours [(1,998 × 4.00) + (856 × 6.8)].