Intent To Request Extension From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Flight Crew Self-Defense Training-Registration and Evaluation

AGENCY:

Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION:

60-Day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0028, abstracted below, that we will submit to OMB for extension in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden for TSA to verify the employment status and eligibility for participation in advanced self-defense training provided by TSA.

DATES:

Send your comments by July 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be emailed to TSAPRA@tsa.dhs.gov or delivered to the TSA PRA Officer, Information Technology (IT), TSA-11, Transportation Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, VA 20598-6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nicole Raymond at the above address, or by telephone (571) 227-2526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The ICR documentation will be available at http://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. Therefore, in preparation for OMB review and approval of the following information collection, TSA is soliciting comments to—

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

OMB Control Number 1652-0028, Flight Crew Self-Defense Training—Registration and Evaluation. TSA is seeking an extension of the ICR, currently approved under OMB control number 1652-0028, to continue compliance with a statutory mandate. Under 49 U.S.C. 44918(b), TSA is required to develop and provide a voluntary advanced self-defense training program for flight and cabin crew members of air carriers providing scheduled passenger air transportation.

TSA must collect specific information to provide the program to eligible participants, as well as assess training quality. This information includes limited biographical information from flight and cabin crew members to confirm their eligibility to participate in this training. TSA uses the information to confirm the eligibility of the participant by contacting the participant's employer.

TSA collects the following information at the time of registration online: name of the crew member, airline affiliation, position, crew member airline identification (ID) number, crew member contact information (home mailing address, home telephone number and/or email address), and the city and state of the TSA Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshals Service field office where the course will be taken. Upon attending class, crew members are asked to show two forms of ID to verify their identity against registration records and to sign the class attendance roster. Two forms of identification includes an airline ID and a Drivers License or Passport.

In addition, TSA requests each crew member to complete an Injury Waiver Form during the registration process, or before the training is conducted. The Injury Waiver Form requests the employee's airline, airline ID number, signature, and date, and is intended to limit any liability to TSA or its facilities should a crew member become injured during the training.

TSA also asks trainees to complete a voluntary evaluation of the training upon completion of the course. Participants may assess the training quality and provide anonymous and voluntary comments by clicking on the electronic feedback link located on the registration site. TSA estimates the number of annual respondents is 795. The respondents are the 300 airlines providing the class rosters, plus the 495 indiviual crew members providing information directly to TSA for the FAM field office classes, totaling 795. The estimated annual burden is 61.17 hours. TSA estimates 11,000 air crew members will undergo self defense training each year. Of these, 95.5% (10,505) of trainings will occur at airline training centers, and 4.5% (495) will occur at FAM field offices. It will take 300 classes to train crew members at airline training centers, and it will take two (2) minutes for the airline to create each class roster. This amounts to 10 hours (300 classes × 2 minutes). TSA estimates the FAMS field office training online registration requires five (5) minutes and the injury waiver and class roster sign-in process requires one (1) minute per crew member. This amounts to 49.5 hours [(495 crew members × 6 minutes)]. Although using the course feedback tab is strictly voluntary, TSA estimates ten (10) minutes per crew member for those who complete the evaluation, and 10 crew members will complete the evaluation each year for a total of 1.67 hours (10 crew members × 10 minutes) TSA estimates the total annual hours for this information collection to be 61.17 (10 + 49.5 + 1.67) hours.