Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small Aircraft Operators, 4993-4994 [2011-1747]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2011 / Notices established rates based on the percentage of unit cost changes in the carriers’ operations. These updating procedures have resulted in the carriers receiving rates of compensation that more closely parallel their costs of providing mail service and contribute to the carriers’ economic well-being. mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Submission of U.S. Carrier Data to ICAO As a party to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the United States is obligated to provide the International Civil Aviation Organization with financial and statistical data on operations of U.S. air carriers. Over 99 percent of the data filed with ICAO is extracted from the carriers’ Form 41 reports. Carrier Fitness Fitness determinations are made for both new entrants and established U.S. domestic carriers proposing a substantial change in operations. A portion of these applications consists of an operating plan for the first year (14 CFR part 204) and an associated projection of revenues and expenses. The carrier’s operating costs, included in these projections, are compared against the cost data in Form 41 for a carrier or carriers with the same aircraft type and similar operating characteristics. Such a review validates the reasonableness of the carrier’s operating plan. Form 41 reports, particularly balance sheet reports and cash flow statements play a major role in the identification of vulnerable carriers. Data comparisons are made between current and past periods in order to assess the current financial position of the carrier. Financial trend lines are extended into the future to analyze the continued viability of the carrier. DOT reviews three areas of a carrier’s operation: (1) The qualifications of its management team, (2) its disposition to comply with laws and regulations, and (3) its financial posture. DOT must determine whether or not a carrier has sufficient financial resources to conduct its operations without imposing undue risk on the traveling public. Moreover, once a carrier is operating, DOT is required to monitor its continuing fitness. Senior DOT officials must be kept fully informed as to all current and developing economic issues affecting the airline industry. In preparing financial conditions reports or status reports on a particular airline, financial and traffic data are analyzed. Briefing papers may use the same information. The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:51 Jan 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), requires a statistical agency to clearly identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. BTS hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both Respondent’s identity and its data, submission of the information to agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in regulatory and other administrative matters. Issued in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2011. Anne Suissa, Director, Office of Airline Information. [FR Doc. 2011–1746 Filed 1–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–HY–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Bureau of Transportation Statistics [Docket ID Number RITA 2008–0002] Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small Aircraft Operators Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting financial, traffic and operating statistics from small certificated and commuter air carriers. Small certificated air carriers (operate aircraft with 60 seats or less or with 18,000 pounds of payload capacity or less) currently must file the two quarterly schedules listed below: F–1 Report of Financial Data, F–2 Report of Aircraft Operating Expenses and Related Statistics, and Commuter air carriers must file the Schedule F–1 Report of Financial Data Commenters should address whether BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden and if there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by March 28, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline Information, RTS–42, Room E36–303, RITA, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00136 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4993 SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001, Telephone Number (202) 366–4387, Fax Number (202) 366–3383 or e-mail bernard.stankus@dot.gov. Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval #2138– 0009 and Docket ID Number RITA 2008–0002. Persons wishing the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: Comments on OMB #2138–0009, Docket—RITA 2008–0002. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Approval No. 2138–0009 Title: Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small Aircraft Operators. Form No.: BTS Form 298–C. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection for the financial data. Respondents: Small certificated and commuter air carriers. Number of Respondents: 80. Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours per commuter carrier; 12 hours per small certificated carrier. Total Annual Burden: 2,560 hours. Needs and Uses: Program uses for Form 298–C financial data are as follows: Mail Rates The Department of Transportation sets and updates the Intra-Alaska Bush mail rates based on carrier aircraft operating expense, traffic, and operational data. Form 298–C cost data, especially fuel costs, terminal expenses, and line haul expenses are used in arriving at rate levels. DOT revises the established rates based on the percentage of unit cost changes in the carriers’ operations. These updating procedures have resulted in the carriers receiving rates of compensation that more closely parallel their costs of providing mail service and contribute to the carriers’ economic well-being. Essential Air Service DOT often has to select a carrier to provide a community’s essential air service. The selection criteria include historic presence in the community, reliability of service, financial stability and cost structure of the air carrier. Carrier Fitness Fitness determinations are made for both new entrants and established U.S. domestic carriers proposing a substantial change in operations. A portion of these applications consists of E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 4994 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2011 / Notices an operating plan for the first year (14 CFR part 204) and an associated projection of revenues and expenses. The carrier’s operating costs, included in these projections, are compared against the cost data in Form 298–C for a carrier or carriers with the same aircraft type and similar operating characteristics. Such a review validates the reasonableness of the carrier’s operating plan. The quarterly financial submissions by commuter and small certificated air carriers are used in determining each carrier’s continuing fitness to operate. Section 41738 of Title 49 of the United States Code requires DOT to find all commuter and small certificated air carriers fit, willing, and able to conduct passenger service as a prerequisite to providing such service to an eligible essential air service point. In making a fitness determination, DOT reviews three areas of a carrier’s operation: (1) The qualifications of its management team, (2) its disposition to comply with laws and regulations, and (3) its financial posture. DOT must determine whether or not a carrier has sufficient financial resources to conduct its operations without imposing undue risk on the traveling public. Moreover, once a carrier begins conducting flight operations, DOT is required to monitor its continuing fitness. Senior DOT officials must be kept fully informed and advised of all current and developing economic issues affecting the airline industry. In preparing financial condition reports or status reports on a particular airline, financial and traffic data are analyzed. Briefing papers prepared for senior DOT officials may use the same information. The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), requires a statistical agency to clearly identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. BTS hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both Respondent’s identity and its data, submission of the information to agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in regulatory and other administrative matters. Issued on January 20, 2011. Anne Suissa, Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. [FR Doc. 2011–1747 Filed 1–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–HY–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:51 Jan 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Bureau of Transportation Statistics [Docket ID Number RITA 2008–0002] Agency Information Collection: Activity Under OMB Review; Report of Traffic and Capacity Statistics—The T–100 System Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of DOT requiring U.S. and foreign air carriers to file traffic and capacity data pursuant to 14 CFR 241.19 and part 217, respectively. These reports are used to measure air transportation activity to, from, and within the United States. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by March 28, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline Information, RTS–42, Room E36–303, RITA, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001, Telephone Number (202) 366–4387, Fax Number (202) 366–3383 or e-mail bernard.stankus@dot.gov. Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval #2138– 0040 and Docket ID Number RITA 2008–0002. Persons wishing the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: Comments on OMB #2138–0040, Docket—RITA 2008–0002. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: to distribute the annual Airport Improvement Program (AIP) entitlement funds to eligible primary airports, i.e., airports which account for more than 0.01 percent of the total passengers enplaned at U.S. airports. Enplanement data contained in Schedule T–100/ T–100(f) are the sole data base used by the FAA in determining airport funding. U.S. airports receiving significant service from foreign air carriers operating small aircraft could be receiving less than their fair share of AIP entitlement funds. Collecting Schedule T–100(f) data for small aircraft operations will enable the FAA to more fairly distribute these funds. Air Carrier Safety The FAA uses traffic, operational and capacity data as important safety indicators and to prepare the air carrier traffic and operation forecasts that are used in developing its budget and staffing plans, facility and equipment funding levels, and environmental impact and policy studies. The FAA monitor changes in the number of air carrier operations as a way to allocate inspection resources and in making decisions as to increased safety surveillance. Similarly, airport activity statistics are used by the FAA to develop airport profiles and establish priorities for airport inspections. OMB Approval No. 2138–0040 Title: Report of Traffic and Capacity Statistics—The T–100 System. Form No.: Schedules T–100 and T– 100(f). Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Certificated, commuter and foreign air carriers that operate to, from or within the United States. Number of Respondents: 250. Number of Annual responses: 3,000. Total Burden per Response: 6 hours. Total Annual Burden: 18,000 hours. Needs and Uses: Acquisitions and Mergers While the Justice Department has the primary responsibility over air carrier acquisitions and mergers, the Department reviews the transfer of international routes involved to determine if they would substantially reduce competition, or determine if the transaction would be inconsistent with the public interest. In making these determinations, the proposed transaction’s effect on competition in the markets served by the affected air carriers is analyzed. This analysis includes, among other thinks, a consideration of the volume of traffic and available capacity, the flight segments and origins-destinations involved, and the existence of entry barriers, such as limited airport slots or gate capacity. Also included is a review of the volume of traffic handled by each air carrier at specific airports and in specific markets which would be affected by the proposed acquisition or merger. The Justice Department uses T–100 data in carrying out its responsibilities relating to airline competition and consolidation. Airport Improvement The Federal Aviation Administration uses enplanement data for U.S. airports Traffic Forecasting The FAA uses traffic, operational and capacity data as important safety PO 00000 Frm 00137 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4993-4994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1747]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

[Docket ID Number RITA 2008-0002]


Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Report 
of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small Aircraft Operators

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general 
public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the 
continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting financial, traffic 
and operating statistics from small certificated and commuter air 
carriers. Small certificated air carriers (operate aircraft with 60 
seats or less or with 18,000 pounds of payload capacity or less) 
currently must file the two quarterly schedules listed below:

F-1 Report of Financial Data,
F-2 Report of Aircraft Operating Expenses and Related Statistics, and
Commuter air carriers must file the Schedule F-1 Report of Financial 
Data

    Commenters should address whether BTS accurately estimated the 
reporting burden and if there are other ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by March 28, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Room E36-303, RITA, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 366-4387, Fax 
Number (202) 366-3383 or e-mail bernard.stankus@dot.gov.
    Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval 
2138-0009 and Docket ID Number RITA 2008-0002. Persons wishing 
the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must submit 
with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: Comments on OMB 2138-0009, 
Docket--RITA 2008-0002. The postcard will be date/time stamped and 
returned.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

OMB Approval No. 2138-0009

    Title: Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small 
Aircraft Operators.
    Form No.: BTS Form 298-C.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection for 
the financial data.
    Respondents: Small certificated and commuter air carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 80.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours per commuter carrier; 12 hours 
per small certificated carrier.
    Total Annual Burden: 2,560 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Program uses for Form 298-C financial data are as 
follows:

Mail Rates

    The Department of Transportation sets and updates the Intra-Alaska 
Bush mail rates based on carrier aircraft operating expense, traffic, 
and operational data. Form 298-C cost data, especially fuel costs, 
terminal expenses, and line haul expenses are used in arriving at rate 
levels. DOT revises the established rates based on the percentage of 
unit cost changes in the carriers' operations. These updating 
procedures have resulted in the carriers receiving rates of 
compensation that more closely parallel their costs of providing mail 
service and contribute to the carriers' economic well-being.

Essential Air Service

    DOT often has to select a carrier to provide a community's 
essential air service. The selection criteria include historic presence 
in the community, reliability of service, financial stability and cost 
structure of the air carrier.

Carrier Fitness

    Fitness determinations are made for both new entrants and 
established U.S. domestic carriers proposing a substantial change in 
operations. A portion of these applications consists of

[[Page 4994]]

an operating plan for the first year (14 CFR part 204) and an 
associated projection of revenues and expenses. The carrier's operating 
costs, included in these projections, are compared against the cost 
data in Form 298-C for a carrier or carriers with the same aircraft 
type and similar operating characteristics. Such a review validates the 
reasonableness of the carrier's operating plan.
    The quarterly financial submissions by commuter and small 
certificated air carriers are used in determining each carrier's 
continuing fitness to operate. Section 41738 of Title 49 of the United 
States Code requires DOT to find all commuter and small certificated 
air carriers fit, willing, and able to conduct passenger service as a 
prerequisite to providing such service to an eligible essential air 
service point. In making a fitness determination, DOT reviews three 
areas of a carrier's operation: (1) The qualifications of its 
management team, (2) its disposition to comply with laws and 
regulations, and (3) its financial posture. DOT must determine whether 
or not a carrier has sufficient financial resources to conduct its 
operations without imposing undue risk on the traveling public. 
Moreover, once a carrier begins conducting flight operations, DOT is 
required to monitor its continuing fitness.
    Senior DOT officials must be kept fully informed and advised of all 
current and developing economic issues affecting the airline industry. 
In preparing financial condition reports or status reports on a 
particular airline, financial and traffic data are analyzed. Briefing 
papers prepared for senior DOT officials may use the same information.
    The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 
Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), requires a statistical agency to 
clearly identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. 
BTS hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the 
information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical 
purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both 
Respondent's identity and its data, submission of the information to 
agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in 
regulatory and other administrative matters.

    Issued on January 20, 2011.
Anne Suissa,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2011-1747 Filed 1-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P

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