[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65889-65891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25923]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0631]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of New Approval of Information Collection: Service 
Availability Prediction Tool (SAPT)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 22, 2019. The collection involves aircraft operators using pre-
flight availability predictions for navigation and surveillance and 
submitting a request for an authorization from air traffic control 
(ATC) via a web-based tool and application process. The collected 
information is necessary to:
    (1) Predict whether an aircraft flying the proposed route of flight 
will have sufficient position accuracy and integrity for:

(a) Navigation, via the Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) 
SAPT
(b) Surveillance, via the Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast 
(ADS-B) SAPT

    (2) Allow operators to request authorization, via ADS-B Deviation 
Authorization Preflight Tool (ADAPT), from ATC to operate aircraft that 
do not fully meet ADS-B Out equipage or performance requirements, in 
airspace that requires ADS-B Out.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 30, 2019.

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 email 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further questions concerning this 
action, contact Mr. David Gray, Deputy Director (Acting), Surveillance 
Directorate, AJM-4, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation 
Administration, by email at: [email protected] or +1-202-267-0513.

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-XXXX.
    Title: Service Availability Prediction Tool (SAPT).
    Form Numbers: Information is collected via a website specific to 
SAPT at https://sapt.faa.gov.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information 
was published on August 22, 2019. 84 FR 43861. Service Availability 
Prediction Tool (SAPT) was developed by the United States (U.S.) 
Department of Transportation (DOT), John A. Volpe National 
Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) for the Surveillance and 
Broadcast Services (SBS) organization within the FAA.
    The SAPT is intended for pilots, dispatchers, and commercial 
operators to check their predicted navigation and surveillance 
availability before a flight. The SAPT has three main components: 
Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) SAPT, Automatic 
Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) SAPT, and ADS-B Deviation 
Authorization Pre-Flight Tool (ADAPT).
    RAIM SAPT use is voluntary and intended for pilots, dispatchers, 
and commercial service providers using Technical Standard Order (TSO)-
C129 equipment to check the availability of Global Positioning System 
(GPS) RAIM for a proposed route of flight, satisfying the area 
navigation (RNAV) guidance as outlined in AC 90-100A Change 2, 
Paragraph 10(5). RAIM SAPT users can view RAIM outage predictions on 
RAIM Summary Displays to graphically view RAIM outage predictions for 
specific equipment configurations. RAIM SAPT predictions are only 
available through an XML-based web service. RAIM SAPT users can use the 
XML-based web service, most commonly used by flight planning software, 
to enter specific route of flight information by the operator checking 
RAIM outage predictions. RAIM SAPT does not collect personally 
identifiable information details about the operator(s).
    The ADS-B SAPT is provided to help operators comply with 14 CFR 
91.225 and 91.227 by predicting whether operators will meet regulatory 
requirements and to advise holders of FAA Exemption No. 12555 whether 
back-up surveillance will be available where installed aircraft 
avionics are not predicted to meet the requirements of 14 CFR 
91.227(c)(1)(i) and (iii). For operators of aircraft equipped with TSO-
C129 (Selective Availability (SA)-On) GPS receivers, the operator may 
run a preflight prediction using ADS-B SAPT as one option to help meet 
their requirements. Information collected via ADS-B SAPT is comparable 
to that already provided in flight plans, with the addition of some 
information about the aircraft position source's TSO and related 
capabilities. Operators using the ADS-B SAPT must enter aircraft 
identification. The ADS-B SAPT does not collect other personally 
identifiable information details about the operator. When an operator 
performs a preflight availability prediction using the FAA's SAPT, the 
SAPT retains a record of each transaction enabling the FAA to confirm 
that an operator took preflight action. The FAA recommends that 
operators using an alternate tool retain documentation that verifies 
the completion of the satisfactory preflight availability prediction 
for each intended route of flight. 84 FR 31713 (July 3, 2019).
    ADAPT is provided to make limited accommodations for those 
operators desiring to fly without meeting the ADS-B equipage or 
performance requirements, in certain circumstances. ADAPT allows 
operators to create an air traffic authorization request to operate, as 
allowed in 14 CFR 91.225(g). As a requirement for using ADAPT, 
operators must first complete the ADS-B SAPT

[[Page 65890]]

``Flight Information Entry'' form to determine if there is sufficient 
backup surveillance coverage throughout their planned flight. Operators 
must enter their personal contact information to enable the FAA to 
reply with either an approval, rejection, or pending decision. ADAPT 
does collect personal identifying information to include name, 
telephone number, and email. RAIM SAPT website offers a Grid Display 
Tool and Summary Displays which can be used to graphically view RAIM 
outage predictions for specific equipment configurations. It also 
supports an XML-based web service for automated checking of RAIM 
compliance (relative to the AC 90-100A rule) by flight planning 
software. The following information is required:

(1) Aircraft Identification (as filed on the Flight Plan; optional)
(2) Route of Flight, including:
    (a) Waypoint Name (optional)
    (b) Lat/Long
    (c) Estimated time over (ETO)
    (d) Requested Horizontal Alert Limit (HAL) (optional; default = 
555.6(NPA))
(3) Request Identifier (user-defined ID string; optional)
(4) Mask Angle (optional; default 5.0)
(5) Baro Aiding (true/false; optional; default = false)

    ADS-B SAPT predictions may be made using XML or using the SAPT 
``Flight Information Entry'' form, which has been modeled after a 
standard FAA Flight Plan form for ease of use. All the active fields of 
the ``Flight Information Entry'' form require an operator to enter 
relevant data. Operators may save and load active field information as 
well as cut and paste from an International Civil Aviation Organization 
(ICAO) Flight Plan. The following information is required:

(1) Aircraft Identification (or ``Call Sign'')
(2) Aircraft Type
(3) ADS-B Position Source TSO (or unequipped)
(4) ADS-B link TSO (or unequipped)
(5) Proposed Departure Time (UTC)
(6) Planned Altitude
(7) Departure Airport
(8) Destination Airport
(9) Route of Flight

    If the operator desires to fly an aircraft that is not equipped 
with ADS-B or that is predicted to not meet the required position 
performance, the operator may request an authorization from ATC to 
deviate from the equipage or performance requirements of 14 CFR 91.225 
or 91.227, under certain circumstances. To relieve the potential burden 
on ATC facilities, the FAA developed the ADAPT to manage aircraft 
operator requests for an ATC authorization. In addition to the 
information required for ADS-B SAPT, the following information is 
required for ADAPT:

(1) Pilot in Command (PIC)
(2) PIC Telephone Number
(3) PIC Email Address
(4) U.S. Civil Aircraft Registry Number or ICAO Address (hex, octal or 
decimal)
(5) ADS-B Equipment Status (unequipped, inoperative, insufficient)
(6) Working Transponder with Altitude Reporting? Yes/No
(7) Affected en route ATC facilities
(8) Flight Classification: Part 91, 121, 129, or 135
(9) Reason for Request
(10) Certification of Truthfulness

    The SAPT or ADAPT ``Flight Information Entry'' form (the form is 
the same and either can be selected) is used by the aircraft operator 
to enter the specific flight details. SAPT will analyze the flight, and 
if the aircraft is not predicted to the position accuracy requirements 
of 14 CFR 91.227, the operator may submit a request to the FAA for an 
ATC authorization using ADAPT. A non-equipped aircraft will 
automatically fail the ADS-B performance requirements but the operator 
is still required to first use ADS-B SAPT, because the SAPT analysis 
provides alternate surveillance information that is necessary for 
evaluating an ATC authorization request.
    Although forms used on the SAPT/ADAPT web pages are similar to 
forms used for VFR/IFR flight plan filing, SAPT/ADAPT web forms are for 
gathering operator information needed for prediction and application 
process purposes only. Operator information submitted via SAPT/ADAPT 
will not generate, nor should they be considered, formal IFR/VFR flight 
plan submissions.
    For more information on the SAPT, see SAPT User Guide at: https://www.sapt.faa.gov/default.php.
    The FAA published a Federal Register Notice on SAPT on August 22, 
2019. 84 FR 43861. The FAA received one response within the comment 
period. The commenter expressed concern with regard to the requirement 
to conduct subsequent predictions using SAPT when there are changes in 
satellite constellation. The commenter is concerned that an ongoing 
duty to execute an updated SAPT would be economically burdensome and 
disruptive to operations. The commenter recommended that a change to 
the satellite constellation not trigger an updated SAPT prediction 
after a flight plan has been filed with ATC.
    After an operator receives a satisfactory preflight availability 
prediction for an intended operation, there may be certain conditions 
that warrant a subsequent prediction. There is no requirement to 
continuously monitor Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs); rather, the 
requirement to execute an updated SAPT is triggered only if the 
operator becomes aware of the condition. A change in the GPS satellite 
constellation, as indicated by a NOTAM, may have an effect on the 
predicted GPS performance for the intended operation. If an operator 
becomes aware of a change that could result in degraded GPS performance 
for the intended route prior to receiving an initial ATC clearance, the 
operator should conduct a subsequent preflight availability prediction 
consistent with 14 CFR 91.103. The duty to conduct a subsequent 
preflight availability prediction for an intended route of flight 
ceases once an operator receives an ATC route clearance for the 
intended operation.
    The FAA is seeking comments from the public regarding the 
information that is collected for SAPT and its three main components: 
RAIM SAPT, ADS-B SAPT, and ADAPT. The information provided in this 
notice is solely to identify and collect information from the public on 
the potential burden to an individual that may result from this 
program.
    Respondents: These prediction tools are primarily intended for 
pilots and dispatchers; anyone who is planning a flight which passes 
through U.S. sovereign airspace using an aircraft whose GPS receiver(s) 
is/are not guaranteed to meet certain performance requirements or whose 
aircraft is not equipped to meet requirements of 14 CFR 91.225.
    Frequency: On occasion as part of flight planning and as required 
by FAA policy.
    RAIM SAPT--3 minutes or less.
    ADS-B SAPT--3 minutes or less.

(It is anticipated that RAIM SAPT and ADS-B SAPT requests will be 
automated into the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) that operators may 
use to plan flights, eliminating manual data-entry)

    ADAPT--7 minutes or less (includes up to 2 minutes for FAA email 
response).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Total estimate of burden hours:
    RAIM SAPT--estimating 224,475 annual responses (Part 121/129

[[Page 65891]]

Operators) is approximately 11,224 hours.
    ADS-B SAPT--estimating 271,099 annual responses (Part 121/129 and 
General Aviation (GA) Operators) is approximately 13,555 hours.
    ADAPT--estimating 203,822.5 annual responses (General Aviation (GA) 
Operators) is approximately 23,847 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
David E. Gray,
Acting Deputy Director, Surveillance Services (AJM-4), Program 
Management Organization, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-25923 Filed 11-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P