[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79304-79305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22124]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent to Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public 
Collection of Information: Federal Flight Deck Officer Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request 
(ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0011, 
that we will submit to OMB for an extension in compliance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden. The collection requires 
interested volunteers to fill out an application to determine their 
qualification for participating in the

[[Page 79305]]

Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program.

DATES: Send your comments by November 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dd898e9c8d8f9c9da9aebcf3b9b5aef3bab2ab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b7f786a7b796a6b5f584a054f4358054c445d">[email protected]</span></a> or delivered 
to the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology (IT), TSA-11, 
Transportation Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, 
Springfield, VA 20598-6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina A. Walsh at the above 
address, or by telephone (571) 227-2062.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a valid OMB control number. The ICR documentation will be 
available at https://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. 
Therefore, in preparation for OMB review and approval of the following 
information collection, TSA is soliciting comments to--
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

    OMB Control Number 1652-0011; Federal Flight Deck Officer Program. 
TSA initially required this information collection under the authority 
of the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act (APATA), which was enacted 
as title XIV, section 1402(a) of the Homeland Security Act (Pub. L. 
107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, 2300, Nov. 25, 2002), as amended by title VI, 
section 609(b) of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization 
Act (Vision 100) (Pub. L. 108-176, 117 Stat. 2489, 2570, Dec. 12, 
2003), as codified at 49 U.S.C. 44921. TSA is seeking to renew this 
information collection to continue collecting the information described 
in this notice to comply with its statutory mission. The APATA required 
TSA to establish a program to deputize volunteer pilots of passenger 
air carriers as Federal law enforcement officers to defend the flight 
deck of their aircraft against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. 
With the enactment of Vision 100, eligibility to participate in the 
FFDO program expanded to include pilots of all-cargo aircraft, as well 
as flight engineers and navigators on both passenger and cargo 
aircraft.
    To screen volunteers for entry into the FFDO program, TSA collects 
information from applicants, including name, address, prior address 
information, personal references, criminal history, limited medical 
information, financial information, and employment information, through 
comprehensive applications they submit to TSA.
    TSA is revising the collection by discontinuing the TSA verbal 
interview and enabling online submission of answers to certification 
questions. TSA previously verbally interviewed each applicant who 
completed the questionnaire to certify their compliance with the FFDO 
program requirements. In lieu of a verbal interview, TSA has now added 
these certification questions to the ``Certification and Release of 
Information'' section of the questionnaire, allowing all the required 
information to be completed during the online application process. This 
revision reduces the burden to the collection by removing the burden 
time to complete the TSA verbal interview. In addition, the change 
eliminates duplication of certain questions that had been asked in the 
TSA verbal interview that were identical to questions asked by the 
background investigators who later interview applicants.
    Based on the average number of new applicants to the FFDO program, 
TSA estimates a total of 1,700 respondents annually. TSA estimates that 
the online application will take one hour for each applicant to 
complete for a total burden of 1,700 hours.

    Dated: September 23, 2024.
Christina A. Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2024-22124 Filed 9-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P


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