The purpose of the collection of
information is used to evaluate whether foreign air carriers
requesting new authority or with existing authority to operate in
the U.S. will be able to conduct their operations safely within the
National Airspace System (NAS) and in compliance with international
obligations. Operators meeting those standards are issued
operations specifications (OpSpecs) authorizing them to operate in
the U.S. Consistent with previous practices, FAA includes a
regulatory standard for issuing maintenance OpSpecs to persons
operating U.S.-registered aircraft outside the U.S. in common
carriage. Operators are required to respond, as needed, to the
collection to obtain or retain a benefit (OpSpecs). OpSpecs are
issued to the operator applying. OpSpecs are not available for
viewing to the general public. OpSpecs are available for viewing to
FAA offices for the purpose of safety oversight of the operators.
FAA occasionally shares OpSpecs information, as needed, with other
agencies such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT) or to answer questions from U.S.
congress. The FAA requires foreign operators applying for the
issuance or amendment of OpSpecs to submit supporting
documentation. The type of documentation that a foreign operator
needs to provide to the FAA is identified in FAA Order 8900.1
volume 12, which is publicly available . The information is helpful
to new applicants as well as existing operators.
US Code:
49
USC 44701 Name of Law: General requirements
The FAA, based on additional
data analysis, has amended the number of respondents and burden to
include that on an existing operators. Also included indirect
costs, using FAA AC 187. New technologies, larger and more
sophisticated aircraft, an evolving operational environment
required amendments in content, limitations and provisions of
certain OpSpecs. These amendments to OpSpecs influenced collection
and burden. FAA inspectors spend a significant amount of time in
indirect work such as training, review of policy and guidance
documents associated with each OpSpec authorization, as well as
time on various administrative functions such as PTRS and WebOPSS
entries for which the AC accounts for in its fee calculation. When
the foreign operator operates U.S. registered aircraft there is
also the additional indirect cost of issuing Special Purpose Pilot
Authorizations (SPPAs). IFO recordkeeping is another indirect cost
associated with the collection. Advanced technology requires a high
level of expertise and specialized training for both operators and
FAA. Differences in manufacturing technical standards for avionics
equipment and airplane flight manuals all add to the challenge. In
the last three years, there were 47 various types of OpSpecs issued
by IFOs to foreign operators, some of which authorized for the use
of advanced technology requiring a high level of knowledge and
expertise, which takes time to acquire. More operators have also
been applying for more complex OpSpecs such as OpSpecs authorizing
required navigation performance authorization required, (RNP-AR),
and OpSpecs authorizing special procedures or lower landing
minimums. since the last collection renewal: - One OpSpec has
undergone two changes for advancements in technology that allowed
operators to communicate with Air traffic Control (ATC)
electronically instead of regular radio-voice communications. The
first change allowed operators to pick up ATC departure clearance
via controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC). The second
change, extended this type of communication (data link as opposed
to voice communication), to the en route phase of flight while in
U.S. airspace. The significance of this type of electronic
communication is that it brings improved efficiency and safety
through the reduction of operational errors associated with voice
communications. In addition to the safety aspect, use of data
communications carries a significant cost savings to taxpayers and
operators which is why this OpSpec change was so important to make.
-The FAA has amended OpSpecs for area navigation visual flight
procedures previously issued via Letter of Authorization stored at
IFOs desk drawers. The inclusion of these procedures in OpSpecs
added transparency and improved oversight of foreign air carriers,
critical when participating operators need to be quickly notified
of procedural changes or suspensions to these procedures occur.
-The FAA has also combined OpSpecs for category II and III landing
minimums. This helped to cut down the volume of OpSpecs operators
need to be issued/reissued.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
12_004_014 IFO recordkeeping.docx
Operations Specifications, part 129 application existing operators