Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; Airline Service Quality Performance

Federal Register Notice
April 13, 1998
Volume 63, Number 70

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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 BTS collecting data on the timeliness of scheduled domestic passenger flights and the incidence of lost or damaged baggage. The 10 largest domestic passenger carriers report this data on a monthly basis.

Commenters should address whether BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden and if there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by June 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: Office of Airline Information, K-25, Room 4125, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Comments: Comments should identify the OMB # 2138-0041 and submit a duplicate copy to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: Comments on OMB # 2138-0041. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline Information, K-25, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Approval No: 2138-0041.

Title: Airline Service Quality Performance.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents: Large domestic passenger air carriers--Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Trans World Airlines, United Air Lines, US Airways.

Number of Respondents: 10.

Estimated Time Per Response: 19 hours.

Total Annual Burden: 2,280 hours.

Needs and Uses

Consumer Information

Since Part 234 has been effective, carriers' quality of service has improved, resulting in a decrease in the number of consumer complaints. The Department discloses the carriers' on-time performances and mishandled baggage information to the public. Airline passengers are now more informed to make carrier selections based on the quality of service provided.

Reducing Air Traffic Delays

Aircraft tail number, wheels-up and wheels-down time gives the FAA valuable data for pinpointing and analyzing air traffic delays. Wheels- up and wheels-down time are used in conjunction with departure and arrival times to show the extent of ground delays. Elapsed flight time (computed from the wheels-up time and the wheels-down time) reveals delays experienced in the air. The reporting of the aircraft tail number allows the FAA to track an aircraft through the air network, which enables the FAA to study the ripple effects of delays at hub airports. Data by aircraft type allows the FAA to calculate the capacity impacted by air traffic congestion. The data can be analyzed for airport design changes, new equipment purchases, the planning of new runways or airports based on current and projected airport delays, and traffic levels.

Timothy E. Carmody,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

[FR Doc. 98-9610 Filed 4-10-98; 8:45 am]

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