[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 239 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71536-71537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27186]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No.: FAA-2021-1138]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Computerized 
Neurocognitive Tests for Aeromedical Safety

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, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invites public comments about our 
intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
for a new Information Collection (IC) effort. The collection involves 
in-person sessions between researchers, certified pilots, and air 
traffic control specialists (ATCS). Computerized neurocognitive tests 
are a non-invasive way to measure cognitive function (e.g., attention, 
working memory, information processing speed, reaction time) and are 
used as part of the FAA's overall aeromedical physical exam process to 
determine if a pilot is safe to operate an aircraft within the National 
Airspace System (NAS) and if an ATCS is safe to return to duty. 
Neurocognitive tests are required only for pilots and ATCSs with 
certain medical conditions associated with aeromedically significant 
cognitive impairments (i.e., not all pilots and ATCSs are tested). The 
FAA needs to ensure that the tests and data used to maintain the safety 
of the NAS are based on the most current scientific knowledge. The 
purpose of this IC effort is to obtain updated pilot and ATCS normative 
data for the FAA's current neurocognitive test and alternative 
neurocognitive tests under consideration. The IC effort will be used to 
potentially revise the FAA's Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) Guide, 
update clinical practices, and assure aeromedical safety. Information 
will be collected from representative pilots and ATCSs across the 
United States, who will complete two different 1-hour neurocognitive 
tests. Total IC effort/time per person will be approximately four hours 
(i.e., to include check-in processing, informed consent, neurocognitive 
test-taking, rest breaks, and participant debrief).

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by February 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: https://www.regulations.gov (Enter docket 
number into search field).
    By mail: Susan M. Jay, Ph.D., Bldg. 13, Rm 155C, 6500 S. MacArthur 
Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73125.
    By fax: (405) 954-0130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Jay, Ph.D., by email at: 
[email protected]; phone: (405) 954-5500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection effort to include: (a) Whether the proposed 
information collection effort is necessary for the FAA's performance; 
(b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the FAA to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collection

[[Page 71537]]

effort; 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 effort.
    OMB Control Number: 2120-XXXX.
    Title: Computerized Neurocognitive Tests for Aeromedical Safety.
    Form Numbers: List all forms.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Background: The FAA's mission and vision is to provide the safest, 
most efficient aerospace system in the world as new users and 
technologies integrate into the system. Computerized neurocognitive 
tests are a non-invasive way to measure cognitive function (e.g., 
attention, working memory, information processing speed, reaction 
time). Neurocognitive tests are used as part of the FAA's overall 
aeromedical physical exam process to determine if a pilot is safe to 
operate an aircraft within the NAS and if an ATCS is safe to return to 
duty. Neurocognitive tests are required only for pilots and ATCSs with 
certain medical conditions associated with aeromedically significant 
cognitive impairments (i.e., not all pilots and ATCSs are tested). The 
FAA needs to ensure that the tests and data used to maintain the safety 
of the NAS based on the most current scientific knowledge. The purpose 
of this IC effort is to obtain updated pilot and ATCS normative data 
for the current test and alternative neurocognitive tests under 
consideration. The IC effort will be used to potentially revise the 
FAA's AME Guide, update clinical practices, and assure aeromedical 
safety.
    Respondents: 1,500 respondents.
    Frequency: One-time collection.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 4-hours burden per 
respondent-response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,000 hours, total burden.

    Issued in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on December 10, 2021.
Susan M. Jay,
Aviation Safety, Research Physiologist, Civil Aerospace Medical 
Institute (CAMI), Federal Aviation Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-27186 Filed 12-15-21; 8:45 am]
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