[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7435-7436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02054]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0189]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Unmanned 
Aircraft System (UAS) Integration at Airports and Necessary Planning, 
Design, and Physical Infrastructure Needs

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 for a new information collection. 
The collection involves conducting research in the form of interviews 
with aviation stakeholders (e.g., airport/droneport operators, private 
entities, original equipment manufacturers, unmanned aircraft system 
(UAS) industry vendors, academia, representatives of the military, 
aviation stakeholders, etc.) to catalog current and planned droneport 
planning, design, and infrastructure needs, as well as find out which 
airports are integrating UAS into the airport environment. During each 
interview, the FAA will ask the stakeholders a specific set of 
questions, and if necessary, fact-specific follow-up questions will be 
posed to clarify and enhance the respondent's answers to the specified 
set of questions. The information to be collected is necessary because 
it will allow the FAA to understand how aviation stakeholders are 
integrating UAS into existing airport design standards/infrastructure 
and standalone facilities also referred to as droneports. Currently, no 
formal FAA definition of droneport currently exists. Based on the 
results of this research effort, the FAA may develop a formal 
definition for a droneport. For the purposes of this research effort, a 
modified version of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1 
definition of `airport' is used to define droneport: `an area of land 
or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and 
takeoff of UAS aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if 
any.' The information collected will also be used to help the FAA to 
shape future droneport research efforts and possible standards and 
guidance material.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by April 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into 
search field).
    By Mail: Michael DiPilato, Airport Research Specialist, FAA Airport 
Technology Research and Development Branch (ANG-E26), FAA William J. 
Hughes Technical Center, Bldg. 301 (FAA Hangar), Atlantic City, NJ 
08405.
    By Fax: 609-485-4845.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael DiPilato by email at: 
[email protected]; phone: 609-485-7249.

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: Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration at Airports and 
Necessary Planning, Design, and Physical Infrastructure Needs.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Background: The aviation industry is experiencing expedited growth 
in new and innovative aircraft design and operation. One of these 
concepts has been unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to 
as `drones'. The proliferation of interest in and use of

[[Page 7436]]

UAS has led to significant policy and regulatory adaptations to safely 
integrate these platforms into the airport environment. The FAA defines 
a UAS as `an unmanned aircraft and the equipment necessary for the safe 
and efficient operation of that aircraft. An unmanned aircraft is a 
component of a UAS. It is defined by statute as an aircraft that is 
operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from 
within or on the aircraft (Pub. L. 112-95, Section 331(8)).' As the 
technology and its use continues to mature, the FAA is committed to 
conducting research and providing policy and guidance to ensure the 
safe operation of UAS, whether autonomous or remotely piloted, in and 
around the airport environment. As more UAS Concept of Operations 
(CONOPS) propose operations involving the airport environment and 
droneports, there is a need to consider if unique requirements or 
recommendations for the planning, design, and physical infrastructure 
needs are necessary.
    On May 9, 2023, the FAA's Office of Airports--Airport Emerging 
Entrants Division (AAS-200) officially sent the FAA's Airport 
Technology Research and Development Branch (ATR) a `Request for 
Research' to conduct research on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) 
Integration at Airports and Necessary Planning, Design, and Physical 
Infrastructure Needs. This `Request for Research' was reviewed and 
approved by the Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory 
Committee (REDAC) Subcommittee on Airports. Established in 1989, the 
FAA's REDAC provides advice and recommendations to the FAA 
Administrator on the needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and 
accomplishments of the aviation research portfolio. The REDAC also 
assists in ensuring FAA present and future aviation research activities 
are coordinated with similar research being conducted outside the FAA. 
The REDAC Subcommittee on Airports includes members from the following 
affiliations: academia, aircraft manufacturers, an airline pilot union, 
airport authorities, aviation industry organizations, and environmental 
advocates.
    As part of the Request for Research (i.e., research effort), 
discussed above, the FAA will conduct interviews with stakeholders, in 
the form of in-person and virtual meetings, with representatives from 
the following organizations: airports, droneports, private entities, 
original equipment manufacturers, UAS industry vendors, the military, 
international aviation community, and academia. During each interview, 
the FAA will ask the stakeholders a specific set of questions, and if 
necessary, fact-specific follow-up questions will be posed to clarify 
and enhance the respondent's answers to the specified set of questions.
    The purpose of these interviews will be to catalog and inventory 
current and prospective droneports and gather key insights from these 
operators. In addition, the research team will document stakeholder's 
experiences/lessons learned with integrating or operating UAS at 
airports and independent droneport operations.
    The results from this research effort will be summarized in a final 
report and will be used to shape the FAA's operational evaluations and 
possible development of standards and guidance documents pertaining to 
planning, design, and physical infrastructure needs, as well as safety 
standards, for fixed-wing and rotary operations. This effort will 
primarily focus on UAS aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more and include 
operational considerations for cargo transport. Vehicles with weights 
lower than 55 pounds will be considered where applicable. Both fixed 
wing and rotary operational will be considered to create a baseline 
understanding before establishing infrastructure design requirements 
and safety standards for existing and standalone facilities referred to 
as a droneport.
    Respondents: Approximately 100 airport operators, droneport 
operators, original equipment manufacturers, private entities, UA 
industry vendors, representatives of the military, the international 
aviation community, and academia.
    Frequency: Information will be collected one to two times annually.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 2.5-4.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 250-400 hours.

    Issued in Atlantic City, NJ, on January 29, 2024.
Michael DiPilato,
Airport Research Specialist, FAA Aviation Research Division, Airport 
Technology Research and Development Branch (ANG-E26).
[FR Doc. 2024-02054 Filed 2-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P