Passenger Facility Charges

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 158

[Docket No. 27791; Notice No. 96-3A]

RIN 2120-AF69

Passenger Facility Charges

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM); extension of

comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document announces an extension of the comment period on

The ANPRM entitled, ``Passenger Facility Charges'' (61 FR 16678; April

16, 1996). This comment period is extended from May 16, 1996, until

August 16, 1996. The extension responds to the request of the Air

Transport Association of America (ATA) and is needed to permit ATA, and

other affected parties, additional time to develop comments responsive

to the ANPRM.

DATES: The comment period is being extended from May 16, 1996, to

August 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: As stated in Notice No. 96-3, comments should be mailed or

delivered in triplicate, to: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of

the Chief Counsel, Attn: Rules Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 27791, 800

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. Comments delivered must

be marked Docket No. 27791. Comments may be examined in Room 915G on

weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sheryl Scarborough, Passenger Facility Charge Branch (App-530),

Airports Financial Assistance Division, Office of Airports Planning and

Programming, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-8825.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 16, 1996, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) issued Notice No. 96-3, entitled ``Passenger

Facility

[[Page 25421]]

Charges'' that sought public comment on changes to several sections of

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 158 that deal with the

collection, handling, and remittance of PFC's. The notice specified the

quantity and quality of airline cost data necessary for the FAA to

determine an adequate rate of airline compensation. In addition, the

notice included several proposed modifications to part 158 that would

allow air carriers to be compensated based on PFC's collected; would

implement the statutory prohibition (FAA Authorization Act of 1994) on

collection of PFC's from passengers traveling on frequent flyer awards;

and clarified various terms. Finally, the notice requested comments on

several proposals dealing with ways to safeguard PFC revenue in the

event of carrier bankruptcy.

By a request dated April 23, 1996, ATA asked that the comment

period be extended 90 days to allow interested parties to respond

adequately to the complex issues in the notice. ATA states that in

light of the demands that the cost data guidance will place upon

responding carriers and the carrier response rate that the FAA has

established, an extension is needed to permit the submission of the

information in the detail and to the extent that the FAA wishes.

The FAA has determined that an extension of the comment period will

allow ATA and its members additional time for a more thorough review of

applicable issues and questions raised by the ANPRM, and the drafting

of responsive comments.

In order, therefore, to give all interested persons additional time

to complete their comments, the FAA finds that it is in the public

interest to extend the comment period.

Accordingly, the comment period will close on August 16, 1996.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 16, 1996.

Paul L. Galis,

Director, Office of Airport Planning and Programming.

[FR Doc. 96-12739 Filed 5-16-96; 3:32 pm]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M