Action
Notice and request for comments.
Summary
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new Information Collection (IC) effort. The collection involves in-person sessions between researchers, certified pilots, and air traffic control specialists (ATCS). Computerized neurocognitive tests are a non-invasive way to measure cognitive function (e.g., attention, working memory, information processing speed, reaction time) and are used as part of the FAA's overall aeromedical physical exam process to determine if a pilot is safe to operate an aircraft within the National Airspace System (NAS) and if an ATCS is safe to return to duty. Neurocognitive tests are required only for pilots and ATCSs with certain medical conditions associated with aeromedically significant cognitive impairments (i.e., not all pilots and ATCSs are tested). The FAA needs to ensure that the tests and data used to maintain the safety of the NAS are based on the most current scientific knowledge. The purpose of this IC effort is to obtain updated pilot and ATCS normative data for the FAA's current neurocognitive test and alternative neurocognitive tests under consideration. The IC effort will be used to potentially revise the FAA's Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) Guide, update clinical practices, and assure aeromedical safety. Information will be collected from representative pilots and ATCSs across the United States, who will complete two different 1-hour neurocognitive tests. Total IC effort/time per person will be approximately four hours (i.e., to include check-in processing, informed consent, neurocognitive test-taking, rest breaks, and participant debrief).