[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34198-34199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14529]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

[Docket ID Number: DOT-OST-2014-0031]


Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Airline 
Service Quality Performance--Part 234

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 
(OST-R), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general 
public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the 
continuing need for--and usefulness of--DOT requiring large 
certificated air carriers to file ``On-Time Flight Performance 
Reports'' and ``Mishandled-Baggage Reports'' pursuant to 14 CFR 234.4 
and 234.6. These reports are used to monitor the quality of air service 
that larger air carriers provide to the flying public. The Federal 
Aviation Administration uses the On-Time Flight Performance Reports to 
identify problem areas within the air traffic control system.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by August 14, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecelia Robinson, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Room E34-410, OST-R, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 366-4405, Fax 
Number (202) 366-3383 or Email [email protected].
    Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval 
number 2138-0041 and Docket ID Number DOT-OST-2014-0031. Persons 
wishing the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: Comments on OMB #2138-0041, Docket--
DOT-OST-2014-0031. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Federal Erulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Services: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 202-366-3383.
    Instructions: Identify docket number, DOT-OST-2014-0031, at the 
beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive 
confirmation that DOT received your comments, see instructions above. 
Internet users may access all comments received by DOT at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted electronically without 
charge or edits, including any personal information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of DOT's dockets by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted 
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket, or to read background documents 
or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.
    Electronic Access: You may access comments received for this notice 
at http://www.regulations.gov by searching docket DOT-OST-2014-0031.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Approval No. 2138-0041.
    Title: Airline Service Quality Performance Reports--Part 234.
    Form No.: BTS Form 234.
    Type of Review: Renewal of approved collection.
    Respondents: Large certificated air carriers that account for at 
least 1 percent of the domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues.
    Number of Respondents: 14.
    Number of Responses: 168.
    Total Burden per Response: 20 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 3,360 hours.
    Needs and Uses:

Consumer Information

    Part 234 gives air travelers information concerning the on-time 
performance history of flights and the rate of mishandled baggage for 
each reporting carrier. The reports are filed by the 14 largest 
scheduled-service U.S. passenger carriers.
    On July 15, 2011 the Department published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to change the manner in which baggage data 
are reported (see 76 FR 41726). The proposed rule would require 
carriers to report: (1) The number of mishandled checked bags (as 
opposed to the current requirement to report the number of mishandled 
baggage reports filed by passengers), (2) the total number of checked 
bags (as opposed to the current requirement to report the total number 
of enplaned passengers), (3) the number of mishandled wheelchairs and 
scooters used by passengers with disabilities that were carried in the 
cargo compartment, and (4) the total number of wheelchairs and scooters 
used by passengers with disabilities that were carried in the cargo 
compartment.
    In the preamble to the Notice, the Department stated that the 
change in the matrix to mishandled bags per unit of checked bags would 
give consumers more reliable information on the air carriers' 
performance regarding the treatment of baggage within their control. 
Under the current system, there is no direct relationship between the 
number of mishandled bags and the number of checked bags. With the 
institution of baggage fees, the number of checked bags at some 
carriers has declined by 40 to 50 percent. There has been a 
corresponding 40 percent decline (i.e., improvement) in the industry 
mishandled baggage rates. The proposed matrix would have a direct 
correlation between mishandled baggage and checked baggage.
    A separate breakout of mishandled wheelchairs/scooters would assist 
passengers with mobility disabilities in selecting air carriers with 
high probabilities of meeting their special needs. There is a gap in 
the Department's data regarding the mishandling of wheelchairs and 
scooters. The proposed data would provide information to passenger with

[[Page 34199]]

disabilities on which air carriers best meet their special needs.

Reducing and Identifying Traffic Delays

    The Federal Aviation Administration uses Part 234 data to pinpoint 
and analyze air traffic delays. Wheels-up and wheels-down times are 
used in conjunction with departure and arrival times to show the extent 
of ground delays. Actual elapsed flight time, wheels-down minus wheels-
up time, is compared to scheduled elapsed flight time to identify 
airborne delays. The reporting of aircraft tail number allows the FAA 
to track an aircraft through the air network, which enables the FAA to 
study the ripple effects of delays at hub airports. The data can be 
analyzed for airport design changes, new equipment purchases, the 
planning of new runways or airports based on current and projected 
airport delays and traffic levels. The identification of the reason for 
delays allows the FAA, airport operators, and air carriers to pinpoint 
delays under their control.

Administrative Issues

    The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 
Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501) requires a statistical agency to clearly 
identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. BTS 
hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the 
information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical 
purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both 
Respondent's identity and its data, submission of the information to 
agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in 
regulatory and other administrative matters.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2015.
Patricia Hu,
Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-14529 Filed 6-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P