Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub.

L. 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) invites the

general public, industry and other Federal Agencies to comment on the

continuing need for and usefulness of the BTS Form 41. Comments are

requested concerning whether (a) the continuation of Form 41 is

necessary for DOT to carry out its mission of promoting air

transportation; (b) BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden; (c)

there are other ways to enhance the quality, use and clarity of the

data collected; and (d) there are ways to minimize reporting burden,

including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of

information technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by January 11, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline

Information, BTS, at (202) 366-4387.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

OMB Approval No. 2138-0013.

Title: Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Large

Certificated Air Carriers.

Form No.: BTS Form 41.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Large certificated air carriers.

Number of Respondents: 98.

Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours.

Total Annual Burden: 35287 hours.

Needs and Uses: DOT uses Form 41 traffic data to help formulate the

United States position in international negotiations, to select

carriers for international routes and to conduct environmental impact

analyses. DOT uses Form 41 cost data to calculate the Standard Fare

Levels (Passenger and Cargo) and to set the Intra-Alaska and

international mail rates. The Department of the Air Force, Military

Airlift Command uses Form 41 data in ratemaking for the Civil Reserve

Air Fleet Program, and for its Air Carrier Analysis Support System

(ACAS). DOT uses aircraft inventory data in its administration of the

War Air Service Program (Emergency Preparedness). DOT uses operational

and financial data to review International Air Transport Association

Agreements (IATA), to review initial air carrier fitness, to review air

carrier continuing fitness, to review foreign air carrier applications

and to monitor the status of the air transport industry. The Justice

Department uses the data in its antitrust analyses. DOT meets its

responsibility to the International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm

of the United Nations, by the use of Form 41 data.

Traffic data, especially enplanement data, are used for the

National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, airport capacity analyses,

the Airport Improvement Program, systems planning at airports,

exemption requests to transport hazardous materials, and essential air

service analyses. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National

Transportation Safety Board use Form 41 data in safety analyses

(operational), air carrier certification, safety forecasting/regulatory

analysis and air carrier safety surveillance and inspection.

The Department of Energy uses Form 41 fuel data in monitoring

industry fuel consumption for emergency preparedness planning.

The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, uses Form

41 data in its estimation of the Gross National Product, analyses of

international trade accounts and to compile the Input-Output Tables of

the United States.

The Department of Labor uses employment statistics in its

Productivity Studies and Indices.

Timothy E. Carmody,

Director, Office of Airline Statistics, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics.

[FR Doc. 98-30245 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P