[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 49302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16683]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Notice of Intent To Request Renewal From the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) of One Current Public Collection of Information; 
Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: TSA invites public comment on one currently approved 
information collection requirement abstracted below that will be 
submitted to OMB for renewal in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act.

DATES: Send your comments by October 24, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Katrina Wawer, 
Information Collection Specialist, Office of Transportation Security 
Policy, TSA-9, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th 
Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Wawer at the above address or by 
telephone (571) 227-1995 or facsimile (571) 227-2594.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. Therefore, 
in preparation for submission to renew clearance 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

    1652-0011; Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program. The 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initially required this 
information collection under Pub. L. 107-296 and Pub. L. 108-176. See 
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act (APATA), Title XIV of the Homeland 
Security Act (Pub. L. 107-296, Nov. 25, 2202), codified at 49 U.S.C. 
44921; Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Vision 100) 
(Pub. L. 108-176, 117 Stat. 2490, Dec. 12, 2003), codified at 49 U.S.C. 
44918. TSA is seeking to renew this information collection in order to 
continue collecting the information described in this notice to comply 
with its statutory mission. APATA required TSA to establish a program 
to screen, select, train, deputize, equip and supervise qualified 
volunteer pilots of passenger aircraft. With the enactment of the 
Vision 100, the program was expanded to include pilots of cargo 
aircraft, as well as flight engineers and navigators, on both passenger 
and cargo aircraft.
    These individuals, known as Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs), 
are authorized to transport and carry a firearm and to use force, 
including deadly force, to defend the flight deck of an aircraft 
against acts of criminal violence or air piracy. In order to screen 
FFDO volunteers for entry into the program, TSA collects information, 
including name, address, prior address information, personal 
references, criminal history, limited medical information, financial 
information and employment information, from applicants through 
comprehensive applications they submit to TSA. The information 
collected is used to assess the qualifications and suitability of 
prospective and current FFDOs through an online application, to ensure 
the readiness of every FFDO, to administer the program, and for 
security purposes.
    Based on the number of current FFDOs, TSA estimates a total of 
6,000 respondents annually. It is estimated the online application will 
take one hour for each applicant to prepare, for a total burden of 
6,000 hours.

    Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on August 17, 2005.
Lisa S. Dean,
Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-16683 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
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