[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8420-8421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01967]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Editorial Note: Due to a technical error, this document,
originally document number 2025-01598, failed to publish in the issue
of January 23, 2025, as scheduled. This notice appeared on the Table of
Contents for the January 23 issue. This notice, under document number
2025-01967, will now publish in the January 29, 2025, issue of the
Federal Register.
Solicitation for Nominations for Appointment to the Commercial
Air Tour Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Solicitation for nominations for appointment to the Commercial
Air Tour ARC.
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[[Page 8421]]
SUMMARY: The FAA is publishing this notice to solicit nominations for
membership on the Commercial Air Tour ARC.
DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on February 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be submitted electronically (by email) to 9-AVS-AFS800-ARC-Solicitation@faa.gov. The subject line should state
``ARC Nomination.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Giron, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591,
telephone (202) 267-1100; email to 9-AVS-AFS800-ARC-Solicitation@faa.gov. The subject line should state ``ARC Question.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In response to Section 363 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024
(``the Act''), the FAA Administrator established the Commercial Air
Tour ARC on January 14, 2025,\1\ to review and develop findings and
recommendations to increase the safety of commercial air tours.
Furthermore, the Act requires the Administrator to issue a notice of
proposed rulemaking establishing increasing safety regulations for
commercial air tour operators based on the recommendations of the ARC.
Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) section 106(p)(5)
authorizes the FAA Administrator to establish an ARC. It is exempt from
the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
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\1\ See https://www.faa.gov/regulationspolicies/rulemaking/committees/documents/commercial-air-tour-aviation-rulemaking.
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An ARC provides the FAA with information, advice, and
recommendations on matters that could result solely in rulemaking. An
ARC functions solely in an advisory capacity. This allows the FAA to
work with industry and the public to improve the development of the
FAA's regulations. Exchanging ideas among members through the ARC
process gives the FAA additional opportunities to obtain first-hand
information and insight from those parties most affected by existing
and proposed regulations.
The FAA does not issue a notice of solicitation for membership on
ARCs as a standard practice. However, considering the significant
number of operators currently engaged in commercial air tour operations
and the lack of an association group or organization representing these
types of operations, the FAA deems it necessary to publish a notice
soliciting interest for this specific ARC to ensure a balanced and
diverse membership to address the tasks.
Description of Duties
The ARC charter includes the scope, specific deadlines, expected
deliverables, and membership composition. The ARC will undertake only
tasks assigned to it by the FAA and provide direct, first-hand
information, advice, and recommendations. ARC participants must:
Attend meetings on a regular and consistent basis;
Advise on matters of importance to the aviation industry
and participating public;
Participate in working groups, as necessary;
Possess the authority, knowledge, and expertise to
represent the organization or industry viewpoints; and
Contribute to the recommendation report, including
developing recommendations and drafting the report.
Eligibility for Membership
In accordance with Section 363 of the Act, nominees must meet one
of the following criteria to be considered for membership:
1. Representatives of industry, including manufacturers of aircraft
and aircraft technologies;
2. Air tour operators or organizations that represent such
operators; or
3. Aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of safety
management systems and flight data monitoring programs under 14 Code of
Federal Regulations part 135.
For commercial air tour operators, the nominee must conduct more
than 100 commercial air tours in a calendar year. Congress has
established a small business provision that excepts operators
conducting 100 or fewer commercial air tours in a calendar year from
compliance with any newly issued regulations stemming from Section 363.
The FAA will select members based on their familiarity and
experience with commercial air tours. Membership will be balanced in
viewpoints, interests, and knowledge of the committee's objectives and
scope. Membership will be limited to promote discussion.
Members will be appointed for a 2-year term.
Nomination Process
The FAA Administrator is seeking individual nominations for
membership to the Commercial Air Tour ARC. Any interested person may
nominate one or more qualified individuals for participation. Self-
nominations are also accepted. Nominations must include the following
materials to be considered for membership. Failure to submit the
required information may disqualify a candidate from the review
process.
A resume or curriculum vitae, which must include relevant
job experience, qualifications, as well as contact information (email,
telephone, and mailing address).
A one-page statement describing how the candidate will
benefit the ARC, considering how the candidate's unique perspective
will advance the conversation. This statement must also identify the
stakeholder group that the candidate represents, as discussed under the
``Eligibility for Membership'' section. Finally, candidates should
state their previous experience on a Federal advisory committee and/or
aviation rulemaking committee (if any), their level of expertise in the
stakeholder group they wish to represent, and the size of the
constituency they represent or are able to reach.
The number and location of air tour operations conducted
in a calendar year (applicable to air tour operators only).
Evaluations will be based on the materials submitted. The
Administrator will make every effort to appoint members to serve on the
ARC from among those candidates determined to have the technical
expertise required to meet the Administrator's needs and in a manner to
ensure an appropriate balance of membership. The selection of committee
members will be consistent with achieving the greatest impact, scope,
and credibility among diverse stakeholders. An effort will be made to
appoint members who represent a range of organizations directly or
indirectly impacted by FAA regulations related to commercial air tours.
The Administrator reserves the discretion to appoint members to serve
on the ARC who were not nominated in response to this notice, if
necessary, to ensure an appropriate balance of membership.
Issued in Washington, DC.
David M. Menzimer,
Manager, General Aviation Operations Section, AFS-830.
[FR Doc. 2025-01967 Filed 1-27-25; 4:15 pm]
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