[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9209]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

14 CFR Part 234


Reporting Requirements for Aircraft Gate Returns

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is hosting a 
public meeting to discuss the reporting of on-time aviation data, 
specifically the reporting of gate-departure time when an aircraft 
returns to the gate after an initial gate departure, but before the 
wheels-off time, and the need to report gate-departure time when the 
flight is ultimately cancelled.

DATES: The meeting will be held June 20, 2007, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the new DOT headquarters 
building at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20590. The room 
number will be announced at a later date. Persons attending the public 
meeting must pass through the building security; therefore, we are 
requesting that you register for attendance by e-mailing or calling Ms. 
Sharon Herman at [email protected] or (202) 366-9059.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, 
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, telephone number (202) 366-4387, 
fax number (202) 366-3383 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The long tarmac delays that occurred in late 2006 and early 2007 
focused public attention on the DOT's Part 234 Airline Service Quality 
Performance Reports. In reviewing taxi-out times, it was brought to our 
attention that the air carriers were inconsistent in reporting gate-
departure times when an aircraft returned to the gate. Some carriers 
were reporting the initial gate departure time while others were 
reporting the ``second'' gate departure time. There are advantages and 
disadvantages with both methods.
    By reporting the first gate-departure time, the DOT knows the time 
interval from when the aircraft was ready to depart and when the 
aircraft actually departed the airport (wheels-off time). However, many 
times the air carrier is credited with an on-time departure, when in 
reality the aircraft returned to the gate only to depart well after the 
scheduled departure time. Also, the taxi-out time is miscalculated, as 
the time that the aircraft was parked at the gate awaiting re-boarding 
is counted in the taxi out time.
    Reporting the second gate-departure time disguises inconveniences 
that the passengers endured by making it appear that they were on the 
aircraft for a much shorter duration before wheels-off time. Some have 
indicated that the taxi-out time for carriers reporting the second gate 
departure time is a more accurate assessment of taxi-out times.
    During recent snowstorms in the northeast, many flights departed 
the boarding gates only to spend many hours on the tarmac being de-iced 
and waiting for improved weather conditions. When the weather 
deteriorated, flights were cancelled. Historically, carriers have not 
reported gate-departure times when the flight is later cancelled. 
During this public meeting, the Department will attempt to clarify the 
reporting requirements for aircraft that return to departure gates.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 8, 2007.
Donald W. Bright,
Assistant Director, Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. E7-9209 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P