Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of a Renewal of an Information Collection: Operational Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 501 [2023-28991]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28991]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2554]


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Renewal notice and request for comments.

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

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 for a renewal of information 
collection. The FAA must continue collecting information about requests 
for waivers from certain operational rules that apply to small unmanned 
aircraft systems (sUAS). The FAA will continue to use 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 March 4, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into 
search field).
    By mail: Dwayne C. Morris, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 
20591.
    By fax: (202) 267-1078.

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. The agency will summarize and/or include 
your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information 
collection.
    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 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%. The reporting burdens for 
operational waiver applications are currently covered by Information 
Collection Request (ICR) 2120-0768. As part of this effort, the FAA is 
renewing this ICR, for operational waiver applications only. 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 29, 2023.
Daniel Ridgeway,
Aviation Safety Inspector, Flight Standards Service, Emerging 
Technologies Division (AFS-700).
[FR Doc. 2023-28991 Filed 1-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P