[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26513]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice lists those forms, reports, and recordkeeping 
requirements imposed upon the public which were transmitted by the 
Department of Transportation to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for its approval in accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 USC Chapter 35). The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collection of information was published on August 8, 1996 [FR 
61, page 41440].

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the DOT information collection requests 
should be forwarded, as quickly as possible, to Edward Clarke, Office 
of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10202, 
Washington, D.C. 20503. If you anticipate submitting substantive 
comments, but find that more than 10 days from the date of publication 
are needed to prepare them, please notify the OMB official of your 
intent immediately.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the DOT information 
collection requests submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Scott 
Keller or Mr. Charles McGuire, Office of the Secretary, Office of 
Aviation Analysis, X-57, Department of Transportation, at the address 
above. Telephone: (202) 366-1031/4534.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3507 of Title 44 of the United 
States Code, as adopted by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
requires that agencies prepare a notice for publication in the Federal 
Register, listing those information collection requests submitted to 
OMB for approval or renewal under that Act. OMB reviews and approves 
agency submissions in accordance with criteria set forth in that Act. 
In carrying out its responsibilities, OMB also considers public 
comments on the proposed forms and the reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements. OMB approval of an information collection requirement 
must be renewed at least once every three years.
    Title: Public Charters.
    OMB Control Number: 2106-0005.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved information collection for which approval has expired.
    Affected Public: Public charter operators.
    Abstract: In 14 CFR 380 (adopted 1979) of its Special Regulations 
the Department established the terms and conditions governing the 
furnishing of public charters in air transportation by direct air 
carriers and public charter operators. Public charter operators arrange 
transportation for groups of persons on aircraft chartered from direct 
air carriers. This arrangement is less expensive for the travelers than 
individually buying a ticket. Further, the charter operator books hotel 
rooms, tours, etc., at destination for the convenience of the traveler.
    Part 380 exempts charter operators from certain provisions of the 
U.S. Code in order that they may provide this service. A primary goal 
of Part 380 is to seek protection for the consumer. Accordingly, the 
rule stipulates that the charter operator must file evidence (a 
prospectus) with the Department for each charter program certifying 
that it has entered into a binding contract with a direct carrier to 
provide air transportation and that it has also entered into agreements 
with Department-approved financial institutions for the protection of 
the charter participants' funds. The prospectus must be approved by the 
Department prior to the operator's advertising, selling or operating 
the charter. The forms (OST Forms 4532, 4533, 4534 and 4535) that 
comprise the operator's filing is the information collection at issue 
here.
    In September 1992, the Department issued a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) [57 FR 42864, 9-16-92] to propose, among other 
revisions, that charter operators need no longer file prospectuses. The 
NPRM was in response to comments that prospectus filings were 
burdensome and unnecessary. However, the majority of respondents to the 
NPRM have urged the Department to retain the existing prospectus filing 
requirements. They desire the more complete consumer protection 
provided by the current rule. Without a complete prospectus it would be 
extremely difficult to assure that financial security and other 
consumer protection requirements are in place for each public charter 
operation.
    The collection involved here requests general information about the 
charter operator and direct air carrier that will provide a public 
charter and requires each to certify that it has contracted with the 
other to provide the transportation. The routing, charter price and 
tour itinerary of the proposed charter are also identified. The 
collection also requires the charter operator, direct air carrier and 
financial institution(s) involved to certify that proper financial 
instruments are in place or other arrangements have been made to 
protect the charter participants' funds and that all parties will abide 
by the Department's public charter regulations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 31,343 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 9, 1996.
Phillip A. Leach,
Information Collection Officer, United States Department of 
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 96-26513 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
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