Asks Stakeholders To Weigh In On Part-91, UAS Accident Reporting And Waiver Application Paperwork

The FAA is seeking public comments on three areas in which it is working to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The agency has published three separate notices in the Federal Register this week.

They include:

Requests for Comments; Clearance of a Renewed Approval of Information Collection: General Operating and Flight Rules-FAR 91

The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) part 91, General Operating and Flight Rules, are authorized by part A of subtitle VII of the revised title 49 of the United States Code. FAR part 91 prescribes rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites, rockets, unmanned free balloons and small unmanned aircraft) within the United States. The reporting and recordkeeping requirements prescribed by various sections of FAR part 91 are necessary for FAA to assure compliance with these provisions. The information collected becomes a part of FAA's official records and is used only by the FAA for certification, compliance and enforcement, and when accidents, incidents, reports of noncompliance, safety programs, or other circumstances require reference to records. Without this information, the FAA would be unable to control and maintain the consistently high level of civil aviation safety we enjoy.

Respondents: Approximately 21,200 airmen, state or local governments, and businesses.

Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Accident Reporting

14 CFR part 107 requires that a small unmanned aircraft accident be reported if it causes: (1) serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness; or (2) damage to any property, other than the small unmanned aircraft, unless the cost of repair or fair market value in the event of total loss does not exceed $500. The information collected by the FAA through its DroneZone web portal, Flight Standards District Offices, or one of the Regional Operations Centers or the Washington Operations Center for each small UAS accident will be used to investigate and determine regulatory compliance. In addition, the accident information will go into the FAA aircraft accident database for safety analysis purposes by the FAA Office of Accident Investigation and Analysis, pursuant to its statutory safety mission. As is currently the case for manned aircraft accidents, small UAS accident data will be made available to the public and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Respondents: Approximately 35 per year.

Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Application for Certificate of Waiver or Authorization

The information collected by FAA Form 7711-2, Application for Certificate of Waiver or Authorization, is reviewed and analyzed by FAA to determine the type and extent of the intended deviation from prescribed regulations. A certificate of waiver or authorization to deviate is generally issued to the applicant (individuals and businesses) if the proposed operation does not create a hazard to persons, property, or other aircraft, and includes the operation of unmanned aircraft. Applications for certificates of waiver to the provisions of Parts 91 and 101 are made by using FAA Form 7711-2. Application for authorization to make parachute jumps (other than emergency or military operations) under Part 105, Section 105.15 (airshows and meets) also uses FAA Form 7711-2. Application for other types of parachute jumping activities are submitted in various ways; e.g., in writing, in person, by telephone, etc.

Persons authorized to deviate from provisions of Part 101 are required to give notice of actual activities. Persons operating in accordance with the provisions of Part 101 are also required to give notice of actual activities. In both instances, the notice of information required is the same. Therefore, the burden associated with applications for certificates of waiver or authorization and the burden associated with notices of actual aircraft activities are identified and included in this request for clearance.

Regarding operation of small unmanned aircraft systems under Part Start Printed Page 17941107, to obtain a certificate of waiver, an applicant will have to submit a request containing a complete description of the proposed operation and a justification, including supporting data and documentation as necessary that establishes that the proposed operation can safely be conducted under the terms of a certificate of waiver. The FAA expects that the amount of data and analysis required as part of the application will be proportional to the specific relief that is requested.

Respondents: 26,495, including approximately 5,500 annual applications for waivers from certain sections of Part 107.

Comments on each of these items are due by June 1, 2020.

FMI: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/31/2020-06656/agency-information-collection-activities-requests-for-comments-clearance-of-a-renewed-approval-of?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_source=federalregister.gov
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/31/2020-06592/agency-information-collection-activities-requests-for-comments-clearance-of-renewed-approval-of?utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/31/2020-06603/agency-information-collection-activities-requests-for-comments-clearance-of-renewed-approval-of?utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list