[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21404-21405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06530]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. 2023-2554]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of Renewal of an Information Collection: Operational Waivers 
for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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 the renewal of an information 
collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on January 4, 2024. The collection involves information about 
requests for waivers from certain operational rules that apply to small 
unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). The FAA uses the collected 
information to make determinations whether to authorize or deny the 
requested operations of sUAS. The information collected 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 April 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Ridgeway by email at: 
[email protected]; or phone at: (360) 605-9425.

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.
    OMB Control Number: 2120-0796.
    Title: Operational Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
    Form Numbers: N/A (Online Portal).
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Background: The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information 
was published on January 4, 2024 (89 FR 501). The FAA is seeing 
increased complexity of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) 
operation flying under 14 CFR part 107. Under 14 CFR 107.205, operators 
of small UAS continue to request waivers from certain operational 
rules. In 2018, the FAA updated and modernized the process for applying 
for such waivers by introducing the FAADroneZone website. These 
improvements have facilitated the process of collecting and submitting 
the information required as part of a waiver application. In 2021, 
recognizing the demand to expedite the integration of unmanned aircraft 
systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS), the FAA revised 
the regulatory framework for safely integrating UAS into routine NAS 
operations. The was accomplished by publishing the ``Operation of Small 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Over People'' rule in January 2021, which 
permitted routine operations of small unmanned aircraft over people and 
at night under certain conditions. This change significantly decreased 
the waiver requests for such operations by over 55%. In order to 
process operational 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. 
Additional 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. 
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, 44701 and 44807.
    Respondents: sUAS 107 Waiver Applications: 3,565 per year.
    Frequency: On occasion. For operational waivers requests, a 
respondent provides the information once, at the time of the request 
for a waiver. If granted, operational waivers may be valid for up to 
four (4) years.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 0.65 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,317 hours.


[[Page 21405]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2024.
Daniel Ridgeway,
Aviation Safety Inspector, Flight Standards Service, Emerging 
Technologies Division (AFS-700).
[FR Doc. 2024-06530 Filed 3-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P