[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35199-35200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12374]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Activity Under OMB 
Review; Report of Financial and Reporting Statistics for Small Aircraft 
Operators

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) , this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently 
approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information 
collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection 
of information was published on January 16, 2002 (67 FR 2281).

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by June 17, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, K-14, Room 4125, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 
366-4387, Fax Number (202) 366-3383 or e-mail [email protected].
    Comments: Comments are invited on whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the Department, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of burden 
of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, in including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: BTS Desk Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

    Title: Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small 
Aircraft Operators.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 2138-0009.
    Forms: BTS Form 298-C.
    Affected Public: Small certificated and commuter air carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 94.
    Estimated Time per Response: 9 hours per quarter for a commuter air 
carrier, 16 hours per quarter for a small certificated air carrier.
    Total Annual Burden: 4,728 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Program uses for Form 298-C data are as follows:

Mail Rates

    The Department of Transportation sets and updates the Intra-Alaska 
Bush mail rates based on carrier aircraft operating expense, traffic, 
and operational data. Form 298-C cost data, especially fuel costs, 
terminal expenses, and line haul expenses are used in arriving at rate 
levels. DOT revises the established rates based on the percentage of 
unit cost changes in the carriers' operations. These updating 
procedures have resulted in the carriers receiving rates of 
compensation that more closely parallel their costs of providing mail 
service and contribute to the carriers' economic well-being.

Essential Air Service

    DOT often has to select a carrier to provide a community's 
essential air service. The selection criteria include historic presence 
in the community, reliability of service, financial stability and cost 
structure of the air carrier.

Carrier Fitness

    Fitness determinations are made for both new entrants and 
established U.S. domestic carriers proposing a substantial change in 
operations. A portion of these applications consists of an operating 
plan for the first year (14 CFR part 204) and an associated projection 
of revenues and expenses. The carrier's operating costs, included in 
these projections, are compared against the cost data in Form 298-C for 
a carrier or carriers with the same aircraft type and similar operating 
characteristics. Such a review validates the reasonableness of the 
carrier's operating plan.
    The quarterly financial submissions by commuter and small 
certificated air carriers are used in determining each carrier's 
continuing fitness to operate. Section 41738 of Title 49 of the United 
States Code requires DOT to find all commuter and small certificated 
air carriers fit, willing, and able to conduct passenger service as a 
prerequisite to providing such service to an eligible essential air 
service point. In making a fitness determination, DOT reviews three 
areas of a carrier's operation: (1) The qualifications of its 
management team, (2) its disposition to comply with laws and 
regulations, and (3) its financial posture. DOT must determine whether 
or not a carrier has sufficient financial resources to conduct its 
operations without imposing undue risk on the traveling public. 
Moreover, once a carrier begins conducting flight operations, DOT is 
required to monitor its continuing fitness.
    Senior DOT officials must be kept fully informed and advised of all 
current and developing economic issues affecting the airline industry. 
In preparing financial condition reports or status reports on a 
particular airline, financial and traffic data are analyzed. Briefing 
papers prepared for senior DOT officials may use the same information.

Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act

    DOT is using financial data reported by small certificated and 
commuter air carriers to establish benchmarks to

[[Page 35200]]

assess the reasonableness of air carrier claims under the Stabilization 
Act.

Bernard Stankus,
Acting Assistant Director, Airline Information, Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics.
[FR Doc. 02-12374 Filed 5-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-FE-P