SUPPORTING STATEMENT
OMB-2120-0045
Federal Aviation Administration Form 5200-7
Justification:
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.
Since 1970, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator has had authority to issue airport-operating certificates to airports receiving certain air carriers and to establish minimum safety standards for the operation of those airports. This authority is currently found in Section 44706, Airport operating certificates, of Title 49, United States Code, Public Law 103-272, 109 Stat. 745 (July 5, 1994). FAA has used this authority to issue requirements for the certification and operation of certain land airports. These requirements are contained in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 139 (14 CFR 139), Certification of Airports, as amended.
An area of considerable concern involving aviation safety in the airport environment is the catastrophic damage that can be caused by aircraft-wildlife collisions. FAA Form 5200-7 (Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report) is used by the aviation public to report technical and repair costs data on accidents/incidents resulting from collisions between aircraft and wildlife. Data collected on FAA Form 5200-7 is necessary to monitor compliance with 14 CFR 139.337 – Wildlife Hazard Management. Additionally, it is essential that the FAA have adequate information on how wildlife activities are affecting aviation in order to continue research and test programs to improve present aircraft and engine airworthiness standards and to allow the FAA to provide helpful guidance on this subject. This collection supports the Department of Transportation’s strategic goal of safety.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has made it a standard for member states to establish procedures for recording and reporting bird strikes and forwarding those reports to ICAO for inclusion in the ICAO Bird Strike Information System (IBIS) database (Annex 14, to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, § 9.4.1.a and 9.4.2). This collection supports the Department of Transportation’s strategic goal of safety.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used.
The data collection is used by the FAA and ICAO to develop standards to cope with bird and other wildlife hazards to aircraft, injury to personnel, and for wildlife habitat control methods on or adjacent to airports.
The information collected is authenticated and stored electronically in the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database. On a controlled basis, this database is accessible to international, national, state, and local governments and both public and private organizations and individuals, for use in addressing the wildlife aircraft strike issue. Since the database’s inception in 2001, over 31,000 queries from various locations around the world have been received and processed.
In 1999, the FAA’s Office of Airport Safety and Standards, in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS), published Wildlife Hazard Management At Airports, A Manual for Airport Operators. The 268 page manual, the first of its kind in the world, provides airport operator and other persons dealing with wildlife-aircraft strike issues with a compendium of best management practices for dealing with this problem. The manual has been translated into Spanish, French and Chinese and distributed worldwide. A revised 362 page second edition of this manual was published in 2005. The information collected under this program was critical to the preparation of these documents.
The FAA’s Office of Airport Safety and Standards has issued 4 Advisory Circulars (AC) addressing the wildlife aircraft strike problem:
AC 150/5200-32A, Reporting Wildlife Aircraft Strikes. This AC explains the importance of reporting collisions between aircraft and wildlife. It also examines recent improvements in the FAA’s Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Reporting system; how to report a wildlife strike; what happens to the wildlife strike report data; how to access the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database; and the FAA’s Feather Identification program.
AC 150/5200-33A Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On Or Near Airports. This AC provides guidance on locating certain land uses having the potential to attract hazardous wildlife to or in the vicinity of public-use airports. It also provides guidance concerning the placement of new airport development projects (including airport construction, expansion, and renovation) pertaining to aircraft movement in the vicinity of hazardous wildlife attractants. Additionally, it provides guidance on how to eliminate or reduce these hazards to the maximum extent possible.
AC 150/5200-34A, Construction or Establishment of Landfills Near Public Airports. This AC contains guidance on complying with Federal statutory requirements regarding the construction or establishment of landfills near public airports pursuant to site limitations contained in 49 U.S.C. § 44718(d), as amended by section 503 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, Pub. L. No. 106-181 (April 5, 2000), "Structures interfering with air commerce."
AC 150/5200-36 Qualifications for Wildlife Biologist Conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Training Curriculums for Airport Personnel Involved in Controlling Wildlife Hazards on Airports. This AC describes the qualifications for wildlife biologists who conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments for airports certificated under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 139 (14 CFR, Part 139). In addition, it addresses the minimum wildlife hazard management curriculum for the initial and recurrent training of airport personnel involved in implementing a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.
The information collected under this program was critical to the preparation of these documents.
The Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Reports form a statistical base for providing assistance and monitoring of the overall national wildlife hazard program. Non-collection of this data would degrade the FAA's safety programs.
3. Describe whether, and to what extend, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
The FAA has introduced automation into the collection of this data. Electronic (web) filing of reports (http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov) began in April 2001. In 2001, 0.4 percent of reports were filed electronically. In 2002, 20 percent of reports were filed electronically. In 2003, 28 percent; in 2004, 32 percent, and in 2005, 40 percent of reports were filed electronically. In accordance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, the form used to report this information is available online and is 100% submitable electronically.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose(s) described in 2 above.
Data collected, except for basic identification data, is unique to this report.
The information recorded and submitted under the Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard Reduction Program is unique to the purpose and not duplicated elsewhere. Data is shared with several other international, federal, and state agencies such as: the International Civil Aviation Organization; the U. S. Department of Agriculture – Wildlife Services, U.S. Department of Defense – US Air Force, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Transport Canada, Central Science Laboratory, U.K., various state aviation authorities and state wildlife management authorities, as well as private industry to eliminate redundancy.
5. If the collection of information has a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses or other small entities (item 5 of OMB Form 83-I), describe the methods used to minimize burden.
This collection does not affect small businesses.
6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The collection is conducted as required when an incident occurs. Reduction in collection would degrade the statistical use of the data and therefore degrade safety.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with 5 CFR 1320.5(d) (2) (i)- (viii).
Collection is consistent with the guidelines.
8. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any) and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
The FAA consults with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Interagency Bird Hazard Committee, Bird Strike Committee – USA, Bird Strike Committee – Canada, Bird Strike Committee – Mexico, and International Birdstrike Committee about the types and quantity of data required to maintain safety standards. In addition, the need for data is coordinated with the U. S. Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Services, USDOD (U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, various state aviation authorities and state wildlife management authorities, and local governments as well as both public and private organizations and individuals.
FAA form 150-5200-7 Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report is modeled on ICAO’s Bird Strike Reporting Form and Supplemental Bird Strike Reporting Form and was coordinated with industry and government users.
A Federal Register 60-day notice for public comments was published on March 15, 2006, vol. 71, no. 50, pg. 13446. No comments were received.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
Payments and/or gifts are not provided to any respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
No assurance of confidentiality is given.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
No personal information is collected.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden for the collection of information.
With the requested information in hand, voluntary completion of FAA Form 5200-7 takes 0.08 hrs or less. Because reporting is voluntary, there is no requirement for the person filing the report to provide 100% of the information requested in the form. They are requested to provide only that information readily available to them.
Burden Hours, Calendar Year 2005 |
||
Number of Responses |
Hour per Response |
Total Burden Hours |
7,133 |
.08 |
592 |
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information.
Respondents voluntarily complete either an electronic or paper version of Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report and submit it to the FAA when an incident occurs. The paper version is franked and pre-addressed to the FAA.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government.
Through an Interagency Agreement the FAA has contracted with the U. S. Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, to edit all strike reports (FAA Form 5200-7) sent to the FAA since 1990 to ensure consistent, error-free data; 2) enter all edited strike reports since 1990 in the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database; 3) supplement FAA-reported strikes with additional, non-duplicated strike reports from other sources; 4) provide FAA with an updated computer file each quarter containing all edited strike reports; and 5) assist the FAA with the production of annual reports summarizing the results of the analyses. The annual cost of this contract is $85,000.
The information collected is authenticated and stored electronically on the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database. On a controlled basis, this database is accessible to international, national, state, and local governments and both public and private organizations and individuals, for use in addressing the wildlife aircraft strike issue. The annual cost of this contract is $35,000
Through an Interagency Agreement between the FAA and the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian provides identification of wildlife strike remains for any USA registered aircraft owner/operator, regardless of where the strike occurred, or to any air carrier, if the strike occurred at a USA airport. There is no charge to the respondent for this service. The annual cost of this contract is $85,000.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes of adjustments reported in items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.
Since the submission of this form is voluntary, the number of responses may shift upward or downward during the report period. This adjustment has resulted in an increase in the burden hours during this report period.
16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
The data is analyzed to:
identify trends in wildlife strike incidents;
identify airports with wildlife control problems;
monitor the effectiveness of wildlife strike control problems;
determine the economic cost of wildlife strikes;
determine the magnitude of safety issues;
and most importantly, determine the nature of the problems (e.g., wildlife species, aircraft and engine types, airports, seasonality) so that corrective actions can be taken.
This data is published in annual reports summarizing the results of the analyses. Copies of the annual report – Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States,– are publicly available in both electronic and paper versions.
Because of the nature of the problem, there are no plans to discontinue collection, analysis, and publication of the data.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
Approval not to display the expiration date for OMB approval is not sought.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions,” of OMB Form 83-I.
There are no exceptions.
Attachments:
Supporting Statement
30 Day Notice
60 Day Notice
Form 5200-7
49 USC 44706
14 CFR 139
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | Flight Standards |
| Last Modified By | ABA |
| File Modified | 2006-08-08 |
| File Created | 2006-08-02 |