[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 52180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26394]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics


Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Part 
291 Domestic Cargo Transportation

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) invites the 
general public, industry and other Federal Agencies to comment on the 
continuing need and usefulness of DOT requiring air carriers holding 
section 418 certificates, that do not submit Form 41 reports, to file 
Form 291-A ``Statement of Operations and Statistics Summary for Section 
418 Operations'' pursuant to 14 CFR 291.42. Form 291-A is used to 
monitor air-cargo activity carried on strictly all-cargo flights.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: Office of Airline 
Information, K-25, Room 4125, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001.

COMMENTS: Comments should identify the OMB #2138-0023 and submit a 
duplicate copy to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the 
Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which the following 
statement is made: Comments on OMB #2138-0023. The postcard will be 
date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, K-25, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval No. 2138-0023

    Title: Domestic Cargo Transportation Part 291.
    Form No.: 291-A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved requirement.
    Respondents: Certificated domestic all-cargo carriers.
    Number of Respondents: 3 domestic all-cargo carriers.
    Total Annual Burden: 12 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Form 291-A financial data are reviewed in 
connection with an air carrier's operations when concerns arise as to a 
carrier's financial condition as evidenced by reported losses and 
delinquency in payments to creditors. Data comparisons are made between 
current and past periods in order to assess the current financial 
positions. Financial trend lines are extended into the future to 
evaluate the continued viability of the carrier.
    When an all-cargo carrier wishes to extend its operation to 
passenger service, the carrier's prior Form 291-A filings are examined 
as a source document to help determine the carrier's financial 
condition.
    FAA's Safety Indicators Division is developing an integrated 
approach to exposure data (Form 291-A is a part of this data) in the 
aviation industry to support the Safety Indicators Program. FAA's 
National Safety Data Center is currently using Form 291-A in compiling 
annual year end flight hours, miles flown, and departures. Also, these 
activity data are used by the National Transportation Safety Board in 
determining the airline industry's annual safety indexes.
    Commercial all-cargo activity data are used by the FAA in 
estimating the excise tax paid by shippers and held by the all-cargo 
air carriers. Although a precise tax figure cannot be computed from the 
Form 291-A reports (because some cargo movements are exempted from the 
excise tax), an estimation is possible for revenue budgeting purposes.
Timothy E. Carmody,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-26394 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-FE-P