Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small Aircraft Operators, 3257-3258 [2018-01183]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit https:// DocketInfo.dot.gov. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov. or the street address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. Electronic Access You may access comments received for this notice at https:// www.regulations.gov, by searching docket DOT–OST–2014–0031. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Approval No. 2138–0013. Title: Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Large Certificated Air Carriers. Form No.: BTS Form 41. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Large certificated air carriers. Number of Respondents: 60. Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours per schedule, an average carrier may submit 90 schedules in one year. Total Annual Burden: 13,910 hours. Needs and Uses: Program uses for Form 41 data are as follows: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Mail Rates The Department of Transportation sets and updates the international and mainline Alaska mail rates based on carrier aircraft operating expense, traffic and operational data. Form 41 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. 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 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 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. PO 00000 Frm 00148 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3257 Issued in Washington, DC, on January 18, 2018. William Chadwick, Jr., Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation Statistics . [FR Doc. 2018–01184 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Bureau of Transportation Statistics [Docket ID Number DOT–OST–2014–0031] 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 26, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne Seguin, Office of Airline Information, RTS–42, Room E32–105, OST–R, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001, Telephone Number (202) 366–1457, Fax Number (202) 366–3383 or EMAIL marianne.seguin@dot.gov. Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval # 2138– 0009 and Docket ID Number DOT–OST– 2014–0031. 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—DOT–OST–2014– SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 3258 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices 0031. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number DOT–OST–2014–0031 by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Docket Services: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: 202–366–3383. Instructions: Identify docket number, DOT–OST–2014–0031, at the beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive confirmation that DOT received your comments, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard. Internet users may access all comments received by DOT at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted electronically without charge or edits, including any personal information provided. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit https:// DocketInfo.dot.gov. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov. or the street address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. Electronic Access: You may access comments received for this notice at https://www.regulations.gov, by searching docket DOT–OST–2014–0031. 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 (29) and commuter air carriers (35). Schedule F1 Number of Respondents: 64. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 Number of Annual responses: 256. Total Burden per Response: 4 hours. Total Annual Burden: 1,024 hours. Schedule F2 Number of Respondents: 29. Number of Annual responses: 116. Total Burden per Response: 12 hours. Total Annual Burden: 1,392 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 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) PO 00000 Frm 00149 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2018. William Chadwick, Jr., Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation Statistics. [FR Doc. 2018–01183 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900–0772] Agency Information Collection Activity: VA Cooperative Studies Program Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3257-3258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01183]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

[Docket ID Number DOT-OST-2014-0031]


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 26, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne Seguin, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Room E32-105, OST-R, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 366-1457, Fax 
Number (202) 366-3383 or EMAIL [email protected].
    Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval # 
2138-0009 and Docket ID Number DOT-OST-2014-0031. 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--DOT-OST-2014-

[[Page 3258]]

0031. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
DOT-OST-2014-0031 by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Services: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 202-366-3383.
    Instructions: Identify docket number, DOT-OST-2014-0031, at the 
beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive 
confirmation that DOT received your comments, include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. Internet users may access all comments received by 
DOT at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted 
electronically without charge or edits, including any personal 
information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit https://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov. or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.
    Electronic Access: You may access comments received for this notice 
at https://www.regulations.gov, by searching docket DOT-OST-2014-0031.

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 (29) and commuter air carriers 
(35).

Schedule F1

    Number of Respondents: 64.
    Number of Annual responses: 256.
    Total Burden per Response: 4 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,024 hours.

Schedule F2

    Number of Respondents: 29.
    Number of Annual responses: 116.
    Total Burden per Response: 12 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 1,392 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 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 in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2018.
William Chadwick, Jr.,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 2018-01183 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P


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