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
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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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 2, 2024. The collection involves conducting research in the form of written responses or 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. If preferred, stakeholders will be able to provide written responses in lieu of an interview. 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 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 shape future droneport research efforts and possible standards and guidance material.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13929-13930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05603]
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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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting
comments on the following collection of information was published on
February 2, 2024. The collection involves conducting research in the
form of written responses or 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. If preferred, stakeholders will be able to provide
written responses in lieu of an interview. 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 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 shape
future droneport research efforts and possible standards and guidance
material.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by April 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Healey by email at:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5efcad6c0d5cd8be38bedc0c4c9c0dce5c3c4c48bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a0025392f3a22640c64022f2b262f330a2c2b2b642d253c">[email protected]</span></a>; phone: 609-485-6429.
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.
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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information
was published on February 2, 2024 (89 FR 7435). 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 UAS has led to significant policy and regulatory
adaptations to safely integrate these platforms into the airport
environment. 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
[[Page 13930]]
or recommendations for the planning, design, and physical
infrastructure needs are necessary.
As part of this research effort, the FAA will obtain responses from
stakeholders, in the form of in-person or virtual interviews or written
responses, with representatives from the following organizations:
airports, droneports, private entities, original equipment
manufacturers, UAS industry vendors, the military, international
aviation community, and academia. 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 this outreach 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 focus
on both UAS with weights lower than 55 pounds (i.e., small UAS) and UAS
aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more (and include operational
considerations for cargo transport). Both fixed wing and rotary
operations 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 hours
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 250 hours
Issued in Atlantic City, NJ, on March 19, 2026.
Joseph F. Healey,
Airport Research Specialist, FAA Aviation Research Division, Airport
Emerging Technology R&D Section (ANG-E263).
[FR Doc. 2026-05603 Filed 3-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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