[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44083-44084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17821]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0684]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Helicopter Air 
Ambulance Operator Reports

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 for a new information collection. 
The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
comments on the following collection of information was published on 
August 12, 2013, vol. 78, no. 155, pages 48925-48926. The FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 included a mandate to begin 
collection of operational data from Air Ambulance operators. The Act 
mandates that not later than 2 years after the date of enactment, and 
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a 
report containing a summary of the data collected. The FAA received a 
total of 17 responses to the request for public comment. Based on the 
comments, the FAA has made adjustments in the reporting requirements, 
frequency of reporting and the format for submission. Specifically, the 
linkage among the registration number, time of day, flight time, IFR 
flight time, and base has been removed. Reporting requirements have 
changed from a ``per flight'' basis to an aggregate basis. 
Additionally, the reporting requirement has been reduced from a 
quarterly report to an annual report.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by August 28, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy DePaepe at (405) 954-9362, or by 
email at: [email protected].

[[Page 44084]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 2120-XXXX
    Title: Helicopter Air Ambulance Operator Reports
    Form Numbers: There are no FAA forms associated with this 
collection.
    Type of Review: Clearance of a new information collection.
    Background: The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 mandates 
that all helicopter air ambulance operators must begin reporting the 
number of flights and hours flown, along with other specified 
information, during which helicopters operated by the certificate 
holder were providing helicopter air ambulance services. See 49 U.S.C. 
44731. The helicopter air ambulance operational data provided to the 
FAA will be used by the agency as background information useful in the 
development of risk mitigation strategies to reduce the currently 
unacceptably high helicopter air ambulance accident rate, and to meet 
the mandates set by Congress. Upon approval of this information 
collection the FAA intends to amend helicopter air ambulance operators' 
Operations Specifications to require submission of the data, mandated 
by Congress, to the FAA.
    The FAA notes that prior to issuance of this notice representatives 
from the Flight Standards Service, Office of Accident Investigation and 
Prevention, and the Office of the Chief Counsel met with 
representatives from the Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA) to 
discuss the FAA's approach to this data collection. Meetings were held 
on October 15, 2012 and May 17, 2013. On June 28, 2013 AMOA submitted a 
response to the FAA discussing its view of the method to collect the 
data being pursued by the FAA. A copy of that letter has been placed in 
the docket and will be considered by the agency.
    Respondents: 73 helicopter air ambulance certificate holders.
    Frequency: Information is collected annually.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 6 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 588 hours.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of 
Transportation/FAA, and sent via electronic mail to [email protected], or faxed to (202) 395-6974, or mailed to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503.
    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.
    The supplementary materials placed in the docket may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2014.
Albert R. Spence,
FAA Assistant Information Collection Clearance Officer, IT Enterprises 
Business Services Division, ASP-110.
[FR Doc. 2014-17821 Filed 7-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P