Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
2120-0660 2019 OIRA Comments Addressed..docx Supporting Statement A	2020-06-11

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
25806	Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program - Existing Program Reporting Requirements Instruction	Modified
238504	Flight Operations Quality Assurance - New Program Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2120-0660	ICR Reference No: 201911-2120-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201610-2120-001
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/11/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 02/19/2020
Terms of Clearance: The agency made modifications to the supporting statement to improve the description of the collection and the burden estimations.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2023	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2020
Responses	259	0	720
Time Burden (Hours)	2,220	0	720
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) is a voluntary safety program designed to improved aviation safety through the proactive use of flight-recorded data. The purpose is to enable early corrective action for potential threats to safety. 14 CFR 13.401 codifies protection from punitive enforcement action based on FOQA information and requires operators with FAA approved FOQA programs to provide aggregate FOQA data to the FAA. Aggregate FOQA information provided to the FAA is protected from public release under 14 CFR Part 193. Operators will use this data to identify and correct deficiencies in all areas of flight operations. Properly used, FOQA data can reduce or eliminate safety risks, as well as minimize deviations from regulations. Through access to de-identified aggregate FOQA data, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA can identify and analyze national trends and target resources to reduce operational risks in the National Airspace System (NAS), air traffic control (ATC), flight operations and airport operations. The FAA and the air transportation industry have sought additional means for addressing safety problems and identifying potential safety hazards. Based on the experiences of foreign air carriers, the results of several FAA-sponsored studies, and input received from government/industry safety forums, the FAA concluded that wide implementation of FOQA programs could have significant potential to reduce air carrier accident rates below current levels. The value of FOQA programs is the early identification of adverse safety trends, which, if uncorrected, could lead to accidents. A key element in FOQA is the application of corrective action and follow-up to ensure that unsafe conditions are effectively remediated.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 49 USC 40123 Name of Law: Protection of voluntarily submitted information
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 46604	09/04/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 61962	11/14/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Flight Operations Quality Assurance - New Program
Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program - Existing Program Reporting Requirements

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	259	720	0	0	-461	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,220	720	0	0	1,500	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: During the preparation of this updated Supporting Statement the FAA responded to the terms of clearance: Prior to any additional approval of this collection, FAA shall fully account for the cost of staff time associated with this collection. The FAA response resulted in adjustments reported in Item 14. The number of current operators with FOQA programs was also adjusted to reflect current rates. The number of forecasted new applicants for FOQA programs was readjusted as well. There was no previous estimate for the development of a FOQA program. The costs of development of a new program have been added to this Supporting Statement. The burden was changed due to a quarterly vs. monthly reporting requirement. The burden was also updated to more accurately reflect the time required to report information to the FAA. United Airlines offered comments during the 60 day Notice comment period that the previously used burden was incorrect. Therefore, the burden has been changed to more accurately represent the burden on carriers. The number of respondents was also updated to reflect the current number of carriers that have a FOQA program.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $38,079

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 02/19/2020

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