[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 38719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16797]



[[Page 38719]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0975]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Information 
Collection 2120-0768, Part 107 Authorizations and Waivers Under 14 CFR 
Part 107

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 to renew an information 
collection. The Federal Aviation Agency is seeking approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a renewal of the existing 
Information Collection 2120-0768. As required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the purpose of this notice is to allow 60 
days for public comment.
    The FAA proposes collecting information related to requests to 
operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in controlled airspace pursuant 
to regulations contained in the code of federal regulations. FAA will 
use the collected information to make determinations whether to 
authorize or deny the requested operation of UAS in controlled 
airspace. The proposed information collection is necessary to issue 
such authorizations or denials consistent with the FAA's mandate to 
ensure safe and efficient use of national airspace.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by October 7, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into 
search field).
    By mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except on Federal holidays.
    By fax: 202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Casey Nair, FAA's Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems (UAS) Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability 
(LAANC) Program Manager, by email at [email protected]; phone: 202-
267-0369.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    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.
    OMB Control Number: 2120-0768.
    Title: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of 
Information Collection: Information Collection 2120-0768, Part 107 
Authorizations and Waivers under 14 CFR part 107.
    Form Numbers: There are no forms associated with this collection.
    Type of Review: Renewal of existing Information Collection.
    Background: The FAA has seen increased operations of small Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems (UAS) flying under 14 CFR part 107. Section 107.41 
states that ``no person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in Class 
B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the 
surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless that 
person has prior authorization from Air Traffic Control (ATC).'' Such 
authorization may be obtained in the form of either an airspace 
authorization issued by the FAA or a waiver of the authorization 
requirements of 14 CFR 107.41 (airspace waiver). Additionally, 
operators may request waivers of the other operational requirements 
listed in Sec.  107.205 (operational waivers).
    In order to process authorization and airspace waiver requests, the 
FAA requires the operator's name, the operator's contact information, 
and information related to the date, place, and time of the requested 
small UAS operation. This information is necessary for the FAA to meet 
its statutory mandate of maintaining a safe and efficient national 
airspace. See 49 U.S.C. 40103 and 44701; Public Law 112-95, Section 
333.
    Additionally, if the operator is seeking an operational waiver from 
one of the other regulations listed in 14 CFR 107.205, further 
information is required related to the proposed waiver and any 
necessary mitigations. The FAA will use the requested information to 
determine if the proposed UAS operation can be conducted safely.
    The FAA proposes to use LAANC and a web portal to process 
authorization requests from the public to conduct Part 107 flight 
operations pursuant to Sec.  107.41. The FAA also proposes to use the 
web portal to process requests from the public to conduct Part 107 
flight operations that require an operational waiver or an airspace 
waiver.
    Respondents: Small UAS operators seeking to conduct flight 
operations under 14 CFR part 107 within controlled airspace or flight 
operations that require waiver from certain provisions of Part 107. 
Between 2020-2022, the FAA estimates that it will receive a total of 
346,917 requests for airspace authorization, 27,831 requests for 
airspace waivers, and 9,000 requests for operational waivers.
    Frequency: The requested information will need to be provided each 
time a respondent requests an airspace authorization to operate a small 
UAS under 14 CFR part 107 in controlled airspace. A respondent may 
reduce the frequency by seeking and obtaining an airspace waiver to 
conduct recurring operations. For requests for operational waivers, a 
respondent will need to provide the information once at the time of the 
request for the waiver. If granted, operational waivers may be valid 
for up to four (4) years.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The FAA estimates the 
respondents using LAANC will take five (5) minutes per request and 
those using the web portal will take thirty (30) minutes per request. 
For those submitting requests for airspace or operational waivers 
through the web portal, the FAA estimates each request will take thirty 
(30) minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: For airspace authorizations, the FAA 
estimates that the average annual burden will be 15,834 hours for 
respondents submitting requests. This includes 8,446 burden hours for 
101,762 LAANC respondents and 6,938 hours for 13,877 web portal 
respondents. For airspace waivers, the FAA estimates that the average 
annual burden will be 4,639 hours for respondents. For operational 
waivers, the FAA estimates that the average annual burden will be 1,950 
hours for respondents.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2019.
Victoria Gallagher,
UAS LAANC Acting Program Manager.
[FR Doc. 2019-16797 Filed 8-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P