[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 75 (Friday, April 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21503-21504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08165]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0387]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Domestic and 
International Flight Plans

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 collection involves extracting flight data such as 
aircraft, routing speed, etc. from domestic and international flights. 
FAA Form 7233-1, Flight Plan: Domestic flight plan information is used 
to govern the flight of aircraft for the protection and identification 
of aircraft and property and persons on the ground. The information is 
used by air traffic controllers, search and rescue (SAR) personnel, 
flight standards inspectors, accident investigators, military, law 
enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Security.
    FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan: International flight 
plan information is used for the same purposes as domestic flight 
plans; in addition, it is used by Customs and international 
controllers.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by June 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into 
search field).
    By Mail: Aldwin E Humphrey, 8th Floor, Room 8407, I St. NW, 
Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Black by email at: 
[email protected]; phone: 214-687-8924.

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: 2120-0026.
    Title: Domestic and International Flight Plans.
    Form Numbers: FAA form 7233-1 Flight Plan, FAA form 7233-4 
International Flight Plan.
    Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.
    Background: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is authorized 
and directed by Title 49, United States Code, paragraph 40103(b), to 
prescribe air traffic rules and regulations governing the flight of 
aircraft for the protection and identification of aircraft and property 
and persons on the ground. Title 14, CFR, Part 91, Subchapter F, 
prescribes flight rules governing the operation of aircraft within the 
United States. These rules govern the operation of aircraft (other than 
moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets and unmanned free balloons) 
within the United States and for flights across international borders. 
Paragraphs 91.153 and 91.169, address flight plan information 
requirements. Paragraph 91.173 states requirements for when an 
instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan must be filed. International 
Standards Rules of the Air, Annex 2 to the Convention on International 
Civil Aviation paragraph 3.3 states requirements for filing 
international flight plans. In addition, a Washington, District of 
Columbia (DC) Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) was implemented 
requiring pilots operating within a certain radius of Washington, DC to 
follow special security flight rules. The SFRA also includes three (3) 
general aviation airports in Maryland (College Park, Clinton/Washington 
Executive/Hyde Field, and Friendly/Potomac Airfield) where pilots are 
required to file a flight plan regardless of whether they are flying 
under visual flight rules (VFR) or IFR. This collection of information 
supports the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of 
Defense in addition to the normal flight plan purposes.
    Almost 100 percent of flight plans are filed electronically. 
However, as a courtesy to the aviation public, flight

[[Page 21504]]

plans may be submitted in paper form. Flight plans may be filed in the 
following ways:
     Air carrier and air taxi operations, and certain corporate 
aviation departments, have been granted authority to electronically 
file flight plans directly with the FAA. The majority of air carrier 
and air taxi flights are processed in this manner.
     Air carrier and air taxi operators may submit pre-stored 
flight plan information on scheduled flights to Air Route Traffic 
Control Centers (ARTCC) to be entered electronically at the appropriate 
times.
     Pilots may call 1-800-WX-BRIEF (992-7433) and file flight 
plans with a flight service station specialist who enters the 
information directly into a computer system that automatically 
transmits the information to the appropriate air traffic facility. 
Pilots calling certain flight service stations have the option of using 
a voice recorder to store the information that will later be entered by 
a specialist.
     Using internet access, pilots may file flight plans 
electronically through Direct User Access Terminal System (DUATS) 
vendors, at no cost to the users. The two vendors allow pilots to store 
flight data so that minimal additional information is required when 
filing a flight plan.
     Private and corporate pilots who fly the same aircraft and 
routes at regular times may prestore flight plans with flight service 
stations. The flight plans will then be entered automatically into the 
air traffic system at the appropriate time.
     Pilots who visit a flight service station in person may 
choose to a file flight plan by using a paper form. The data will then 
be entered into a computer and filed electronically. The pilot will 
often keep the paper copy for his/her record.
    Respondents: Air carrier and air taxi operations, and certain 
corporate aviation departments, General Aviation Pilots.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 2.5 minutes per flight plan.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 718,618 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 13, 2020.
Aldwin E. Humphrey,
Air Traffic Control Specialist, Office of Flight Service Safety and 
Operations, AJR-B.
[FR Doc. 2020-08165 Filed 4-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P