Document ID: FAA-2008-0713-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Notice of Interim Operating Authority Granted to Commercial Air Tour Operators Over National Parks and Tribal Lands Within or Abutting National Parks
Posted Date: 2008-07-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register: July 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 131)]
[Notices]               
[Page 39073-39074]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jy08-136]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0713]

 
Notice of Interim Operating Authority Granted to Commercial Air 
Tour Operators Over National Parks and Tribal Lands Within or Abutting 
National Parks

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On October 25, 2002, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
published the final rule for Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations part 
136, National Parks Air Tour Management (67 FR 65662). The rule became 
effective on January 23, 2003. On January 27, 2005, the FAA published a 
notice of opportunity for commercial air tour operators granted interim 
operating authority (IOA) under the National Parks Air Tour Management 
Act of 2000 (the Act) to review and self correct annual authorizations 
(70 FR 3972). The results were published by operator in the Federal 
Register on Thursday, June 23, 2005, (70 FR 36456). The comment due 
date was set for 70 FR 36456 and the IOA republished in the Federal 
Register on Friday, October 7, 2005 by park instead of by operator (70 
FR 58778). This Notice is pursuant to the review and accepting of five 
(5) New Entrant applications and seeks public comment regarding this 
matter from interested parties.

DATES: Comments must be received by the FAA by August 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by Docket Number FAA-2008-0713 
using the following method:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman R. Elrod, Air Transportation 
Division, 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-250, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 493-5562; e-mail norman.elrod@faa.gov, or, Edwin D. 
Miller, Air Transportation Division, 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, 
AFS-250, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-8166; e-mail 
edwin.miller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Provision(s) for new entrant air tour operators are specified in 
Section 803 of

[[Page 39074]]

the Act under (c) Interim Operating Authority, (3) New entrant air tour 
operators (A), (B), & (C). The five new entrants seeking IOA are listed 
below:

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                                               National park
         Operator name              DBA        unit/Abutting      IOA
                                                tribal land
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kanab, Utah Air Service.......  NA.........  Zion NP.........        120
                                             Bryce Canyon NP.        120
                                             Rainbow Bridge          120
                                              NM.
                                             Canyon Lands NP.        120
                                             Arches NP.......        120
                                             Cedar Breaks NM.        120
Mauiscape Helicopters.........  NA.........  Haleakala NP....      4,140
Skycraft Air Service..........  NA.........  Volcanoes NP....        600
Wings Air.....................  NA.........  Statue of             1,500
                                              Liberty NM.
Zip Aviation..................  NA.........  Statue of            12,000
                                              Liberty NM.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discussion

    The operators cited above applied for New Entrant IOA between 
January of 2003 and November 2005. The FAA, having evaluated the 
applications, is now prepared to move forward with the application 
process. This notice fulfills that statutory requirement that mandates 
the IOA granted under the Act to be published in the Federal Register 
for notice and opportunity for comment.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2008.
Gary Davis,
Air Transportation Division, Acting Manager of AFS-200.
 [FR Doc. E8-15441 Filed 7-7-08; 8:45 am]

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