Notice2024-02054
Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration at Airports and Necessary Planning, Design, and Physical Infrastructure Needs
Primary source
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Published
February 2, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection. The collection involves conducting research in the form of interviews with aviation stakeholders (e.g., airport/droneport operators, private entities, original equipment manufacturers, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) industry vendors, academia, representatives of the military, aviation stakeholders, etc.) to catalog current and planned droneport planning, design, and infrastructure needs, as well as find out which airports are integrating UAS into the airport environment. During each interview, the FAA will ask the stakeholders a specific set of questions, and if necessary, fact-specific follow-up questions will be posed to clarify and enhance the respondent's answers to the specified set of questions. The information to be collected is necessary because it will allow the FAA to understand how aviation stakeholders are integrating UAS into existing airport design standards/infrastructure and standalone facilities also referred to as droneports. Currently, no formal FAA definition of droneport currently exists. Based on the results of this research effort, the FAA may develop a formal definition for a droneport. For the purposes of this research effort, a modified version of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1 definition of `airport' is used to define droneport: `an area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of UAS aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if any.' The information collected will also be used to help the FAA to shape future droneport research efforts and possible standards and guidance material.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 23 (Friday, February 2, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7435-7436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02054]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0189]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments;
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Unmanned
Aircraft System (UAS) Integration at Airports and Necessary Planning,
Design, and Physical Infrastructure Needs
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 the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection.
The collection involves conducting research in the form of interviews
with aviation stakeholders (e.g., airport/droneport operators, private
entities, original equipment manufacturers, unmanned aircraft system
(UAS) industry vendors, academia, representatives of the military,
aviation stakeholders, etc.) to catalog current and planned droneport
planning, design, and infrastructure needs, as well as find out which
airports are integrating UAS into the airport environment. During each
interview, the FAA will ask the stakeholders a specific set of
questions, and if necessary, fact-specific follow-up questions will be
posed to clarify and enhance the respondent's answers to the specified
set of questions. The information to be collected is necessary because
it will allow the FAA to understand how aviation stakeholders are
integrating UAS into existing airport design standards/infrastructure
and standalone facilities also referred to as droneports. Currently, no
formal FAA definition of droneport currently exists. Based on the
results of this research effort, the FAA may develop a formal
definition for a droneport. For the purposes of this research effort, a
modified version of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1
definition of `airport' is used to define droneport: `an area of land
or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and
takeoff of UAS aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if
any.' The information collected will also be used to help the FAA to
shape future droneport research efforts and possible standards and
guidance material.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by April 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
By Electronic Docket: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (Enter docket number into
search field).
By Mail: Michael DiPilato, Airport Research Specialist, FAA Airport
Technology Research and Development Branch (ANG-E26), FAA William J.
Hughes Technical Center, Bldg. 301 (FAA Hangar), Atlantic City, NJ
08405.
By Fax: 609-485-4845.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael DiPilato by email at:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e43474d464f4b42004a475e47424f5a416e484f4f00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91fcf8f2f9f0f4fdbff5f8e1f8fdf0e5fed1f7f0f0bff6fee7">[email protected]</span></a>; phone: 609-485-7249.
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: Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration at Airports and
Necessary Planning, Design, and Physical Infrastructure Needs.
Form Numbers: None.
Type of Review: New information collection.
Background: The aviation industry is experiencing expedited growth
in new and innovative aircraft design and operation. One of these
concepts has been unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to
as `drones'. The proliferation of interest in and use of
[[Page 7436]]
UAS has led to significant policy and regulatory adaptations to safely
integrate these platforms into the airport environment. The FAA defines
a UAS as `an unmanned aircraft and the equipment necessary for the safe
and efficient operation of that aircraft. An unmanned aircraft is a
component of a UAS. It is defined by statute as an aircraft that is
operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from
within or on the aircraft (Pub. L. 112-95, Section 331(8)).' As the
technology and its use continues to mature, the FAA is committed to
conducting research and providing policy and guidance to ensure the
safe operation of UAS, whether autonomous or remotely piloted, in and
around the airport environment. As more UAS Concept of Operations
(CONOPS) propose operations involving the airport environment and
droneports, there is a need to consider if unique requirements or
recommendations for the planning, design, and physical infrastructure
needs are necessary.
On May 9, 2023, the FAA's Office of Airports--Airport Emerging
Entrants Division (AAS-200) officially sent the FAA's Airport
Technology Research and Development Branch (ATR) a `Request for
Research' to conduct research on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
Integration at Airports and Necessary Planning, Design, and Physical
Infrastructure Needs. This `Request for Research' was reviewed and
approved by the Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory
Committee (REDAC) Subcommittee on Airports. Established in 1989, the
FAA's REDAC provides advice and recommendations to the FAA
Administrator on the needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and
accomplishments of the aviation research portfolio. The REDAC also
assists in ensuring FAA present and future aviation research activities
are coordinated with similar research being conducted outside the FAA.
The REDAC Subcommittee on Airports includes members from the following
affiliations: academia, aircraft manufacturers, an airline pilot union,
airport authorities, aviation industry organizations, and environmental
advocates.
As part of the Request for Research (i.e., research effort),
discussed above, the FAA will conduct interviews with stakeholders, in
the form of in-person and virtual meetings, with representatives from
the following organizations: airports, droneports, private entities,
original equipment manufacturers, UAS industry vendors, the military,
international aviation community, and academia. During each interview,
the FAA will ask the stakeholders a specific set of questions, and if
necessary, fact-specific follow-up questions will be posed to clarify
and enhance the respondent's answers to the specified set of questions.
The purpose of these interviews will be to catalog and inventory
current and prospective droneports and gather key insights from these
operators. In addition, the research team will document stakeholder's
experiences/lessons learned with integrating or operating UAS at
airports and independent droneport operations.
The results from this research effort will be summarized in a final
report and will be used to shape the FAA's operational evaluations and
possible development of standards and guidance documents pertaining to
planning, design, and physical infrastructure needs, as well as safety
standards, for fixed-wing and rotary operations. This effort will
primarily focus on UAS aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more and include
operational considerations for cargo transport. Vehicles with weights
lower than 55 pounds will be considered where applicable. Both fixed
wing and rotary operational will be considered to create a baseline
understanding before establishing infrastructure design requirements
and safety standards for existing and standalone facilities referred to
as a droneport.
Respondents: Approximately 100 airport operators, droneport
operators, original equipment manufacturers, private entities, UA
industry vendors, representatives of the military, the international
aviation community, and academia.
Frequency: Information will be collected one to two times annually.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 2.5-4.5 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 250-400 hours.
Issued in Atlantic City, NJ, on January 29, 2024.
Michael DiPilato,
Airport Research Specialist, FAA Aviation Research Division, Airport
Technology Research and Development Branch (ANG-E26).
[FR Doc. 2024-02054 Filed 2-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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