Information collection requirements
contained in the final rule are used by the FAA to determine an
airport operator’s compliance with part 139 safety and operational
requirements, and to assist airport personnel to perform duties
required under the regulation. These record keeping and reporting
collection requirements are mandatory for all part 139 certificated
airports, or those airports applying for a part 139 certificate.
Under part 139, the FAA requires airports to comply with safety
requirements prior to serving operations of certain air carrier
aircraft. When an airport satisfactorily complies with such
requirements, the FAA issues to that facility an airport operating
certificate (AOC) that permits an airport to serve air carriers.
The FAA periodically inspects these airports to ensure continued
compliance with part 139 safety requirements, including the
maintenance of specified records. Both the application for an AOC
and annual compliance inspections require operators of certificated
airports to collect and report certain operational information.
Specifically, operators of certificated airports are required to
develop, and comply with, a written document, an Airport
Certification Manual (ACM), that details how an airport will comply
with the requirements of part 139. The ACM shows the means and
procedures whereby the airport will be operated in compliance with
part 139, plus other instructions and procedures to help personnel
concerned with operation of the airport to perform their duties and
responsibilities. The AOC remains in effect as long as the need
exists and the operator complies with the terms of the AOC and the
ACM. The certificated airport is also required to record and report
to the FAA upon request certain activities, such as training and
self-inspections. The frequency of gathering this data varies from
daily to annually, depending on the requirement of part 139.
Maintaining the ACM and the data from inspections and training is
required to ensure that the airport complies with the standards of
part 139’s safety and operational requirements, and to help airport
personnel to perform duties required under the regulation.
Additionally, certain changes in the operation of the airport must
be reported to the FAA for information or approval. If an exemption
is needed to commence airport operations, justification for, and
FAA approval of, the exemption is required for issuance of the AOC.
The operator may request FAA approval of changes to the AOC or ACM,
or an exemption from part 139 requirements, by submitting
justification and documentation. Also, the FAA Administrator may
propose changes to the AOC or ACM and the airport operator may
submit contrary evidence of argument concerning the proposed
changes. The likely respondents to new information requests are
those civilian U.S. airport certificate holders who operate
airports that serve scheduled and unscheduled operations of air
carrier aircraft with more than 30 passenger seats (approximately
539 airports). These airport operators already hold an AOC and
comply with all current information collection requirements.
Certain airport operators not currently certificated by the FAA
also will be required to apply for a certificate under part 139 if
they want to serve certain air carriers. Such airport operators
would be required to complete FAA Form 5280-1, Airport Operating
Certification Application, develop an ACM and provide written
documentation as to when air carrier service will begin. After the
FAA reviews these documents, an airport operator may be required to
revise its proposed certification manual prior to being issued an
AOC. Once an airport operator is issued an AOC, the operator will
be required to comply with information collection requirements
(similar to other certificated airports) to show compliance with
part 139.
US Code:
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USC 44706 Name of Law: Airport operating certificates
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:
(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;
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.
Initial Certification of Airports, 139.401