Document ID: FAA-2020-0379-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Operational Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Posted Date: 2020-04-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 70 (Friday, April 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20333-20334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07604]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0379]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Operational 
Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA 
invites public comments about our intention to request Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection. 
The FAA proposes collecting information about requests for waivers from 
certain operational rules that apply to small unmanned aircraft systems 
(sUAS). The FAA will use the collected information to make 
determinations whether to authorize or deny the requested operations of 
sUAS. The proposed information collection is necessary to issue such 
authorizations or denials consistent with the FAA's mandate to ensure 
safe and efficient use of national airspace.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by June 9, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
    By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into 
search field).
    By mail: Dwayne C. Morris, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 
20591.
    By fax: (202) 267-1078.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremy Grogan by email at: 
jeremy.grogan@faa.gov; phone: (405) 666-1187

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for FAA's performance; (b) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for FAA to enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) 
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of 
the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include 
your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information 
collection.
    OMB Control Number: 2120-XXXX.
    Title: Operational Waivers for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
    Form Numbers: N/A (Online Portal).
    Type of Review: New.
    Background: The FAA has seen increased operations of small unmanned 
aircraft systems (sUAS) flying under 14 CFR part 107. Under 14 CFR 
107.205, operators of small UAS may seek waivers from certain 
operational rules. The FAA is updating and modernizing the process for 
applying for such waivers using the DroneZone website. These 
improvements will facilitate the process of collecting and submitting 
the information required as part of a waiver application. The reporting 
burdens for operational waiver applications are currently covered by 
Information Collection Request (ICR) 2120-0768. As part of this effort, 
the FAA is creating a new ICR just for operational waiver applications. 
In order to process operational waiver requests, the FAA requires the 
operator's name, the operator's contact information, and information 
related to the date, place, and time of the requested small UAS 
operation. Additional information is required related to the proposed 
waiver and any necessary mitigations. The FAA will use the requested 
information to

[[Page 20334]]

determine if the proposed UAS operation can be conducted safely. This 
information is necessary for the FAA to meet its statutory mandate of 
maintaining a safe and efficient national airspace. See 49 U.S.C. 
40103, 44701 and 44708.
    Respondents: sUAS Operators: 8,034 per year.
    Frequency: On occasion. For requests for operational waivers, a 
respondent will need to provide the information once at the time of the 
request for the waiver. If granted, operational waivers may be valid 
for up to four (4) years.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 0.65 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5,222 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2020.
Dwayne C. Morris,
Project Manager, Flight Standards Service, General Aviation and 
Commercial Division.
[FR Doc. 2020-07604 Filed 4-9-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P