Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Continued Approval of Information Collection: Limited Recreational Unmanned Aircraft Operation Applications, 52240-52241 [2023-16852]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52240-52241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16852]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1480]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of Continued Approval of Information Collection: Limited 
Recreational Unmanned Aircraft Operation Applications

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 Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval to continue information 
collection. The collection involves information related to recreational 
flying under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of 
Unmanned Aircraft. The information collected will be used to recognize 
Community Based Organizations (CBOs), administer an aeronautical 
knowledge and safety test, establish fixed flying sites, approve 
standards and limitations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) weighing 
more than 55 pounds, and designate FAA Recognized Identification Areas 
(FRIAs).

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by October 6, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into 
search field).
    By mail: Alvin A Brunner, AFS-830/SPS, 800 Independence Ave. SW, 
Washington, DC 20591.
    By email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin Brunner by email at: 
[email protected]; phone: (405) 666-1024.

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: 2120-0794.
    Title: Limited Recreational Unmanned Aircraft Operation 
Applications.
    Form Numbers: Online collection.
    Type of Review: Continued information collection.
    Background: In 2018, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (Pub. L. 115-254). Section 44809 of Public Law 115-254 allows a 
person to operate a small unmanned aircraft (UA) without specific 
certification or operating authority from the FAA if the operation 
adheres to certain limitations. These limitations require the FAA to 
recognize community-based organizations (CBOs), develop and administer 
an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, establish fixed flying 
sites, approve standards and limitations for unmanned aircraft weighing 
more than 55 pounds, and designate FAA Recognized Identification Areas 
(FRIAs).
    The information will be collected online, primarily through the 
FAA's DroneZone website. The information

[[Page 52241]]

collected will be limited to only that necessary for the FAA to 
complete a review of an application under the following statutory 
requirements:

 Section 44809(c)(1), Operations at Fixed Sites
 Section 44809(c)(2)(a), Standards and Limitations--UA Weighing 
More Than 55 Pounds
 Section 44809(c)(2)(b), Operations at Fixed Sites--UA Weighing 
More Than 55 Pounds
 Section 44809(g)(1), Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test
 Section 44809(i), Recognition of Community-Based Organizations

    Respondents: Individuals and organizations operating under the 
Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft who 
wish to be recognized as CBOs, administer the aeronautical knowledge 
and safety test, establish fixed flying sites, have standards and 
limitations for unmanned aircraft weighing more than 55 pounds 
approved, and establish designated FRIAs.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Varies depending on the type 
of stakeholder application. Fixed flying site applications (including 
more than 55 pound UAS and FRIA) are estimated to take 0.5 hours per 
applicant. CBO recognition and more than 55 pound UAS standards and 
limitations applications are estimated to take 1.0 hours per applicant.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Varies depending on the type of 
stakeholder application. CBO recognition and more than 55 pound UAS 
standards and limitations applications are not recurring, resulting in 
a one-time annual burden of 1 hour per application. However, this 
number can vary greatly as incomplete applications are quickly denied, 
but complete application that include over 55 pound UAS can take two or 
more hours. Fixed flying site applications are required to be updated/
renewed annually, resulting in a total annual burden of 0.5 hours per 
year.
    The FAA estimates 25 CBO recognition/more than 55 pound UAS 
standards and limitations applications in the first year, totaling 25 
hours. Fixed flying site applications (including more than 55 pound UAS 
and FRIA) are expected to number around 200 applications per year, 
totaling 100 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 2, 2023.
D.C. Morris,
Aviation Safety Analyst, Flight Standards Service, General Aviation and 
Commercial Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-16852 Filed 8-4-23; 8:45 am]
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