Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: FAA Runway Slot Administration and Schedule
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The FAA wants to hear what people think about its plan to keep collecting information from airlines about when they can use busy airport runways. This will help make sure planes take off and land on time, without lots of delays.
Summary AI
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public comments on its plan to renew an information collection related to airport runway slot administration and scheduling. This initiative aims to manage air traffic demand and reduce delays at key airports. The FAA gathers slot data from U.S. and foreign air carriers operating at major airports like JFK and LAX, ensuring efficient airspace use. Public comments are invited to improve the quality and reduce the burden of this information collection process.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. This information collection was previously published in the Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 18, 2024. Two comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. The FAA collects information from U.S. and foreign air carriers holding a slot at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The information collected is necessary to support the advance management of air traffic demand by the FAA Slot Administration in an effort to reduce potential delays.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reaching out to the public for comments on its plan to renew an important information collection related to airport runway slot administration and scheduling. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FAA's objective is to efficiently manage air traffic demand and mitigate potential delays at major airports like JFK, LAX, and several others. This initiative involves gathering data from both U.S. and foreign airlines that hold slots at these airports to ensure an orderly and effective allocation of airspace.
General Summary
The document highlights the need for renewing the information collection process. The FAA collects slot-related data from airlines to support advance management and reduce delays, requiring airlines to report on various aspects such as slot transfers, returns, and usage. The goal is to maintain efficient air traffic flow and meet regulatory requirements for airspace management. This publication also notes that the current collection method predominantly relies on electronic submissions, aligning with modern data practices.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One concern is the possible technological burden on airlines, as the submission process is exclusively electronic. The document does not clarify whether all carriers are equipped to meet these electronic submission requirements. Furthermore, while the FAA invites public input, some stakeholders like Exhaustless, Inc. expressed concerns that seem to be dismissed as outside the scope of the current process. This response might appear dismissive to some, highlighting a need for more inclusive stakeholder engagement.
The document also mentions complex terms and abbreviations without much explanation, potentially alienating readers who are not familiar with industry-specific jargon. Moreover, the estimated annual burden of 5,616.7 hours for information collection, though significant, lacks context regarding whether this is an improvement over previous years.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the FAA's initiative aims to enhance air travel by reducing delays and improving air traffic management at congested airports. While the public might not notice the immediate effects of this data collection, the ultimate benefit could be more reliable and timely air travel experiences.
Impact on Stakeholders
Airlines are directly impacted as they bear the responsibility of submitting slot information regularly. This can introduce additional operational burdens, especially for smaller carriers that might not have sophisticated data management systems. Furthermore, the FAA's approach to comments made by Exhaustless, Inc. and the Airports Council International—North America (ACI-NA) indicates potential areas where stakeholder suggestions are not fully incorporated, particularly involving slot usage reporting and the inclusion of airport operators' inputs.
ACI-NA's feedback points to potential improvements FAA could explore, such as obtaining independent runway capacity analyses from airports, using more modern IT tools for data collection, and other best practices. However, these suggestions are currently outside the scope of the Paperwork Reduction Act proceedings, possibly missing opportunities for significant procedural advancements.
In summary, while the FAA's renewed information collection aims to streamline air traffic at major airports and potentially benefit the traveling public, there are notable areas where stakeholder engagement could be enhanced, and procedural transparency could be improved to address the raised concerns more comprehensively.
Issues
• The document mentions that the FAA estimates all information from carriers is submitted electronically, but it's unclear if there are any specific technological requirements for the carriers or if all carriers are equipped to meet this requirement.
• The summary of comments section indicates that "Exhaustless' objections are outside the scope of this Paperwork Reduction Act proceeding," which may suggest a lack of consideration for the feedback. It could appear dismissive of stakeholder input.
• The document uses regulatory references and technical jargon (e.g., IATA WASG, TFMS, ARTS) that may not be easily understood by the general public or all stakeholders.
• The estimated total annual burden of 5,616.7 hours for the information collection process might appear significant; some context or comparison to previous burdens could help in understanding if this is an improvement.
• Suggestions from ACI-NA are acknowledged but noted as beyond the scope, potentially ignoring valuable input regarding improvements in slot usage reporting and information dissemination.
• The document outlines the collection burden but does not explicitly describe potential steps to minimize it or the potential cost implications for air carriers effectively.