[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52779-52780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21624]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Renewal From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Federal Flight Deck Officer Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request 
(ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0011, 
abstracted below that we will submit to OMB for renewal in compliance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. The collection 
requires interested volunteers to fill out an application to determine 
their suitability for participating in the Federal Flight Deck Officer 
(FFDO) Program, and deputized FFDOs to submit written reports of 
certain prescribed incidents.

DATES: Send your comments by November 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to 
the TSA PRA Officer, Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, 
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 20598-6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina A. Walsh at the above 
address, or by telephone (571) 227-3651.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a valid OMB control number. The ICR documentation is available 
at http://www.reginfo.gov. Therefore, in preparation for OMB review and 
approval of the following information collection, TSA is soliciting 
comments to--
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

    1652-0011; Federal Flight Deck Officer Program. The Transportation 
Security Administration (TSA) initially required this information 
collection under the authority of the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism 
Act (APATA), Title XIV of the Homeland Security Act (Nov. 25, 2002), 
sec. 1402(a), as amended by title VI of the Vision 100--Century of 
Aviation Reauthorization Act (Vision 100) (Dec. 12, 2003), sec. 609(b). 
See Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2300, as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44921, 
and Public Law 108-176, 117 Stat. 2570, as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44921, 
respectively. TSA is seeking to renew this information collection in 
order to continue collecting the information described in this notice 
to comply with its statutory mission. The APATA required TSA to 
establish a program to deputize volunteer pilots of passenger air 
carriers as Federal law enforcement officers to defend the flight deck 
of their aircraft against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. With 
the enactment of Vision 100, eligibility to participate in the FFDO 
program expanded to include pilots of all-cargo aircraft, as well as 
flight engineers and navigators on both passenger and cargo aircraft.
    In order to screen volunteers for entry into the FFDO program, TSA 
collects information, including name, address, prior address 
information, personal references, criminal history, limited medical 
information, financial information, and employment information, from 
applicants through comprehensive applications they submit to TSA. In 
addition, standard operating procedures require deputized FFDOs to 
report certain prescribed incidents to TSA so that appropriate records 
are created for evidentiary, safety, and security purposes. TSA uses 
the information collected to assess the qualifications and suitability 
of prospective and current FFDOs through an online application, to 
ensure the readiness of every FFDO, to administer the program, and for 
other transportation security purposes. Based on the average number of 
new applicants to the FFDO program, TSA estimates a total of 5,000 
respondents annually. TSA estimates that the online

[[Page 52780]]

application will take one hour for each applicant to complete, for a 
total burden of 5,000 hours.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on August 24, 2015.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-21624 Filed 8-31-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-05-P