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]
BILLING CODE 4910-FE-P
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