Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Special Purpose Pilot Authorization, § 61.77 Application

Issuing agencies

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 June 16, 2025. The collection involves application for a Special Purpose Pilot Authorization (SPPA) submitted to the FAA for the purpose of performing pilot duties on a civil aircraft of the United States and leased by a non-U.S. citizen. The information to be collected will be used to determine applicant eligibility for the issuance of a SPPA under 14 CFR part 61, Section 61.77.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62585-62586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20099]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0636]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Approval of Information Collection: Special Purpose 
Pilot Authorization, Sec.  61.77 Application

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 
June 16, 2025. The collection involves application for a Special 
Purpose Pilot Authorization (SPPA) submitted to the FAA for the purpose 
of performing pilot duties on a civil aircraft of the United States and 
leased by a non-U.S. citizen. The information to be collected will be 
used to determine applicant eligibility for the issuance of a SPPA 
under 14 CFR part 61, Section 61.77.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by November 2, 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: Danuta Pronczuk by email at: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c0a4a1aeb5b4a1eeb0b2afaea3bab5ab80a6a1a1eea7afb6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c080d0219180d421c1e03020f1619072c0a0d0d420b031a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>; phone: 202-267-0923.

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: Special Purpose Pilot Authorization, Sec.  61.77 
Application.
    Form Numbers: Pending.
    Type of Review: a 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 June 16, 2025 (90 FR 25423). The FAA recognizes 
``authorizations'' as equivalent to certificates issued by the 
Administrator under 49 U.S.C. 44711(a)(2), formerly the Federal 
Aviation Act of 1958, as amended. On August 4, 1997, the FAA adopted a 
final rule which replaced the special purpose pilot certificate for 
foreign pilots of U.S.-registered aircraft with a special purpose pilot 
authorization (SPPA). The SPPA under Sec.  61.77 provides for 
validation of a foreign pilot license. The rule requires pilots who 
hold a SPPA issued in accordance with Sec.  61.77 to have that 
authorization in their possession in the aircraft when exercising the 
privileges of that authorization. The information collection is 
necessary to determine applicant eligibility for the issuance of SPPA 
under 14 CFR part 61, Sec.  61.77. Following is a summary of the 
information collected on the application document which once signed and 
properly issued by the FAA serves as a SPPA to permit the performance 
of pilot duties: applicants information (name, permanent mailing 
address), applicants Foreign Pilot License information (number, 
issuance, and expiration dates, country of issuance, aircraft category, 
class and Type), applicants Medical Certificate information (issuance 
and expiration dates), (applicants) employer information (name, address 
and telephone number), a certification statement certifying that the 
information provided is true and that the applicant understands the 
requirements and limitations that are specified in Sec.  61.77. The 
applicant also needs to submit the following eligibility documentation:
    (1) A foreign pilot license issued by the aeronautical authority of 
a contracting State to the Convention on International Civil Aviation 
that contains the appropriate aircraft category, class, type rating, if 
appropriate, and instrument rating for the aircraft to be flown;
    (2) A certification by the lessee of the aircraft--
    (i) Stating that the applicant is employed by the lessee;
    (ii) Specifying the aircraft type on which the applicant will 
perform pilot duties; and
    (iii) Stating that the applicant has received ground and flight 
instruction that qualifies the applicant to perform the duties to be 
assigned on the aircraft.

[[Page 62586]]

    (3) Documentation showing when the applicant will reach the age of 
65 years (an official copy of the applicant's birth certificate or 
other official documentation);
    (4) Documentation the applicant meets the medical standards for the 
issuance of the foreign pilot license from the aeronautical authority 
of that contracting State to the Convention on International Civil 
Aviation; and
    (5) A statement that the applicant does not already hold a special 
purpose pilot authorization; however, if the applicant already holds a 
special purpose pilot authorization, then that special purpose pilot 
authorization must be surrendered to either the Flight Standards office 
that issued it, or the Flight Standards office processing the 
application for the authorization, prior to being issued another 
special purpose pilot authorization.
    The FAA is also seeking approval for a Form that will standardize 
the collection and add efficiency to the SPPA application and approval 
process.
    Respondents: Approximately 2,259 applicants annually.
    Frequency: Information is collected on occasion.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 1 Hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,259 hours.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2026.
Carl N. Johnson,
Division Manager, International Program Division, Flight Standards 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20099 Filed 9-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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