[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3766-3767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01658]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. 2120-0660]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments;
Clearance of a Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Flight
Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
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 the voluntary submission of
information gained through the Flight Operations Quality Assurance
(FOQA) Program. FOQA is a voluntary safety program designed to improve
aviation safety through the proactive use of flight-recorded data. The
information collected will allow operators to use this data to identify
and correct deficiencies in all areas of flight operations.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by March 30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into
search field)
By Mail: By mail: Sandra L. Ray, 1187 Thorn Run Road, Suite 200,
Coraopolis, PA 15108
By Fax: 412-239-3063
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Ray, Flight Standards, Office
of Safety Standards, Safety Management Branch (AFS-940) by email at:
[email protected]; phone: 412-546-7344.
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: 2120-0660.
Title: Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program.
Form Numbers: None.
Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.
Background: Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) is a
voluntary safety program designed to improve aviation safety through
the proactive use of flight-recorded data. Operators will use this data
to identify and correct deficiencies in all areas of flight operations.
An air carrier wanting to participate in FOQA will prepare an
Implementation and Operations (I&O) Plan for FAA review and approval.
The I&O Plan specifies the organization, technology, policies,
procedures, and operational processes to be used in their FOQA program.
It further details how an air carrier will collect operational flight
data, develop methods to analyze the collected flight data (e.g.,
trigger events, routine operational measurements), and establish
procedures for comparing the collected data with established procedures
and standards. The air carrier determines the areas it will heighten
awareness and feedback programs to enhance safety. Identified areas
often include flight procedures, flight training procedures and
qualification standards, crew performance, air traffic control
procedures, aircraft maintenance and engineering programs, and/or
aircraft and airport design and maintenance. Trend analyses of FOQA
data will identify potential problem areas, evaluate corrective
actions, and measure performance over time. This information is de-
identified to share with stakeholders and regulators such as the FAA,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or industry
safety groups.
Properly used, FOQA data can reduce or eliminate safety risks, as
well as minimize deviations from regulations. Through access to de-
identified aggregate FOQA data, the FAA can identify and analyze
national trends and target resources to reduce operational risks in the
National Airspace System (NAS), air traffic control (ATC), flight
operations and airport operations.
The FAA and the air transportation industry have sought additional
means for addressing safety problems and identifying potential safety
hazards. Based on the experiences of foreign air carriers, the results
of several FAA-sponsored studies, and input received from government/
industry safety forums, the FAA concluded that wide implementation of
FOQA programs could have significant potential to reduce air carrier
accident rates below current levels. The value of FOQA programs is the
early identification of adverse safety trends, which, if uncorrected,
could lead to accidents. A key element in FOQA is the application of
corrective action and follow-up to ensure that unsafe conditions are
effectively remediated.
Respondents: 69 Air Carriers (57 with existing programs and 12 with
new programs).
Frequency: Once for certificate holders requesting a new program,
monthly for certificate holders with an existing program.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 100 hours for new
respondents, 30 hours annually for existing respondents.
[[Page 3767]]
Estimated Total Annual Burden 1,200 hours for new respondents,
1,710 hours for existing respondents.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Hugh J. Thomas,
Acting Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01658 Filed 1-27-26; 8:45 am]
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