Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 23, 2024

Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space last revised: Nov 21, 2024
§ 298.60 - General reporting instructions.

(a) Each commuter air carrier and each small certificated air carrier shall file the applicable schedules of Form 298-C, “Report of Financial and Operating Statistics for Small Aircraft Operators,” Schedule T-100, “U.S. Air Carrier Traffic and Capacity Data by Nonstop Segment and On-Flight Market,” and the “Passenger Origin—Destination Survey” prescribed in part 241, Sec. 19-8, of this subchapter.

(b) A single copy of the BTS Form 298-C report shall be filed quarterly with the Office of Airline Information (OAI) for the periods ended March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year to be received on or before May 10, August 10, November 10, and February 10, respectively. An electronic filing of the monthly Schedule T-100 is due at OAI within 30 days after the end of each month. Due dates falling on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday will become effective on the next work day.

(c) Reports required by this section shall be submitted to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics in a format specified in accounting and reporting directives issued by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' Director of Airline Information.

[ER-1399, 50 FR 19, Jan. 2, 1985, as amended by Doc. No. 47939, 57 FR 40104, Sept. 2, 1992; 60 FR 66726, Dec. 26, 1995; 67 FR 49231, July 30, 2002; 75 FR 41585, July 16, 2010; DOT-OST-2014-0140, 84 FR 15935, Apr. 16, 2019; DOT-OST-2018-0132, 88 FR 6164, Jan. 31, 2023]
§ 298.61 - Reporting of traffic statistics.

(a) Each commuter air carrier and small certificated air carrier shall file Schedule T-100, U.S. Air Carrier Traffic and Capacity Data by Nonstop Segment and On-Flight Market.”

(b) Schedule T-100 shall be filed monthly as set forth in§ 298.60.

(1) Schedule T-100 collects summarized flight stage data and on-flight market data from revenue flights. All traffic statistics shall be compiled in terms of each flight stage as actually performed. The detail T-100 data shall be maintained in such a manner as to permit monthly summarization and organization into two basic groupings. The first grouping, the nonstop segment information, is to be summarized by equipment type, within class of service, within pair-of-points, without regard to individual flight number. The second grouping requires that the enplanement/deplanement information be broken out into separate units called on-flight market records, which shall be summarized by class of service, within pair-of-points, without regard for equipment type or flight number.

(2) Joint-service operations. The Department may authorize joint service operations between two direct air carriers. Examples of these joint-service operations are: blocked-space agreements; part-charter agreements; code-sharing agreements; wet-lease agreements, and similar arrangements.

(i) Joint-service operations are reported by the carrier in operational control of the flight, i.e., the carrier that uses its flight crews under its own FAA operating authority. The traffic moving under these agreements is reported on Schedule T-100 the same way as any other traffic on the aircraft.

(ii) If there are questions about reporting a joint-service operation, contact the BTS Assistant Director—Airline Information (fax no. 202 366-3383, telephone no. 202 366-4373). Joint-service operations are reported in Schedule T-100 in accordance with this paragraph (b).

(iii) Operational control. The air carrier in operational control of the aircraft (the carrier that uses its flight crews under its own FAA operating authority) must report joint-service operations.

(c) Service classes. (1) The statistical classifications are designed to reflect the operating characteristics attributable to each distinctive type of service offered. The combination of scheduled and nonscheduled operations with passenger, all-cargo, and military services are placed into service classes as follows:

Code Type of Service
FScheduled Passenger/Cargo
GScheduled All-Cargo
LNonscheduled Civilian Passenger/Cargo
PNonscheduled Civilian Cargo
NNonscheduled Military Passenger/Cargo
RNonscheduled Military Cargo

(2) Scheduled services include traffic and capacity elements applicable to air transportation provided pursuant to published schedules and extra sections of scheduled flights. Scheduled Passenger/Cargo (Service Class F) is a composite of first class, coach, and mixed passenger/cargo service.

(3) Nonscheduled services include all traffic and capacity elements applicable to the performance of nonscheduled aircraft charters, and other air transportation services not constituting an integral part of services performed pursuant to published flight schedules.

(d) Air transport traffic and capacity elements. (1) Within each of the service classifications, carriers shall report air transport traffic and capacity elements. The elements are reported on segment or market records as follows:

Code Description Segment Market Computed by DOT
Carrier, carrier entity codeSM
Reporting period dateSM
Origin airport codeSM
Destination airport codeSM
Service class codeSM
Aircraft type codeS
110Revenue passengers enplanedM
130Revenue passengers transportedS
140Revenue passenger-milesCFD*
210Revenue cargo tons enplanedCFD*
217Enplaned freightM
219Enplaned mailM
230Revenue tons transportedCFD*
237Transported freightS
239Transported mailS
240Revenue ton-milesCFD*
241Revenue ton-miles passengerCFD*
247Revenue ton-miles freightCFD*
249Revenue ton-miles mailCFD*
270Available capacity payloadS
280Available ton-milesCFD*
310Available seats, totalS
320Available seat-milesCFD*
410Revenue aircraft miles flownCFD*
430Revenue aircraft miles scheduledCFD*
501Inter-airport distanceCFD*
510Revenue aircraft departures performedS
520Revenue aircraft departures scheduledS
610Revenue aircraft hours (airborne)S
630Aircraft hours (ramp-to-ramp)S
650Total aircraft hours (airborne)S

*CFD = Computed by DOT from detail Schedule T-100 and T-100(f) data.

(2) [Reserved]

(e) These reported items are further described as follows:

(1) Reporting period date. The year and month to which the reported data are applicable.

(2) Carrier, Carrier entity code. Each air carrier shall report its name and entity code (a five digit code assigned by BTS that identifies both the carrier and its entity) for its particular operations. The Office of Airline Information (OAI) will assign or confirm codes upon request; OAI's address is Office of Airline Information, BTS, DOT, RTS-42, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.

(3) Service class code. The service class codes are prescribed in section 298.61(c). In general, classes are divided into two broad categories, either scheduled or nonscheduled, where scheduled = F + G and nonscheduled = L + N + P + R.

(4) Record type code. This code indicates whether the data pertain to non-stop segment (record type S) or on-flight market (record type M).

(5) Aircraft type code. This code represents the aircraft types, as described in the BTS' Accounting and Reporting Directives.

(6) Origin, Destination airport code(s). These codes represent the industry designators. An industry source of these industry designator codes is the Official Airline Guide (OAG). OAI assigns codes upon request if not listed in the OAG.

(7) 110 Revenue passengers enplaned. The total number of revenue passengers enplaned at the origin point of a flight, boarding the flight for the first time; an unduplicated count of passengers in a market. Under the T-100 system of reporting, these enplaned passengers are the sum of the passengers in the individual on-flight markets. In the domestic entity, report only the total revenue passengers enplaned in item 110.

(8) 130 Revenue passengers transported. The total number of revenue passengers transported over a single flight stage, including those already on the aircraft from a previous flight stage. In the domestic entity, report only the total revenue passengers transported in item 130.

(9) 140 Revenue passenger-miles. Computed by multiplying the inter-airport distance of each flight stage by the number of passengers transported on that flight stage.

(10) 210 Revenue cargo tons enplaned. The total number of cargo tons enplaned. This data element is a sum of the individual on-flight market figures for each of the following categories: 217 Freight and 219 Mail. This element represents an unduplicated count of the revenue traffic in a market.

(11) 217 Enplaned freight. The total weight of revenue freight enplaned at the origin point of a flight, loaded onto the flight for the first time; an unduplicated count of freight in a market.

(12) 219 Enplaned mail. The total weight of mail enplaned at the origin point of a flight, loaded onto the flight for the first time; an unduplicated count of mail in a market.

(13) 230 Revenue tons transported. The number of tons of revenue traffic transported. This element is the sum of the following elements: 231 Passengers transported-total, 237 Freight, and 239 Mail.

(14) 237 Transported freight. The total weight of freight transported over a single flight stage, including freight already on the aircraft from a previous flight stage.

(15) 239 Transported mail. The total weight of mail transported over a single flight stage, including mail already on the aircraft from a previous flight stage.

(16) 240 Revenue ton-miles—total. Ton-miles are computed by multiplying the revenue aircraft miles flown (410) on each flight stage by the number of tons transported on that stage. This element is the sum of 241 through 249.

(17) 241 Revenue ton-miles—passenger. Equals the number of passengers times 200, times inter-airport distance, divided by 2000. A standard weight of 200 pounds per passenger, including baggage, is used for all operations and service classes.

(18) 247 Revenue ton-miles—freight. Equals the volume of freight in whole tons times the inter-airport distance.

(19) 249 Revenue ton-miles—mail. Equals the volume of mail in whole tons times the inter-airport distance.

(20) 270 Available capacity-payload. The available capacity is collected in pounds. This figure shall reflect the payload or total available capacity for passengers, mail, and freight applicable to the aircraft with which each flight stage is performed.

(21) 280 Available ton-miles. The aircraft miles flown on each flight stage multiplied by the available capacity on the aircraft in tons.

(22) 310 Available seats. The number of seats available for sale. This figure reflects the actual number of seats available, excluding those blocked for safety or operational reasons. In the domestic entity, report the total available seats in item 130. Scheduled and nonscheduled available seats are reported in item 130.

(23) 320 Available seat-miles. The aircraft miles flown on each flight stage multiplied by the seat capacity available for sale.

(24) 410 Revenue aircraft miles flown. Revenue aircraft miles flown are computed based on the airport pairs between which service is actually performed; miles are generated from the data for scheduled aircraft departures (Code 520) times the inter-airport distances (Code 501).

(25) 430 Revenue aircraft miles scheduled. The number of revenue aircraft miles scheduled. All such data shall be maintained in conformity with the airport pairs between which service is scheduled, whether or not in accordance with actual performance.

(26) 501 Inter-airport distance. The great circle distance, in official statute miles as prescribed in part 247 of this chapter, between airports served by each flight stage. Official inter-airport mileage may be obtained from the Office of Airline Information.

(27) 510 Revenue aircraft departures performed. The number of revenue aircraft departures performed.

(28) 520 Revenue aircraft departures scheduled. The number of revenue aircraft departures scheduled, whether or not actually performed.

(29) 610 Revenue aircraft hours (airborne). The elapsed time, computed from the moment the aircraft leaves the ground until its next landing.

(30) 630 Aircraft hours (ramp-to-ramp). The elapsed time, computed from the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power from the boarding ramp at one airport to the time it comes to rest at the ramp for the next point of landing. This data element is also referred to as ‘block’ and ‘block-to-block’ aircraft hours.

(31) 650 Total aircraft hours (airborne). The elapsed time, computed from the moment the aircraft leaves the ground until it touches down at the next landing. This includes flight training, testing, and ferry flights.

(f) Public availability of Schedule T-100 data. Detailed domestic on-flight market and nonstop segment data in Schedule T-100, except military data, shall be publicly available after processing. Domestic data are defined as data from air transportation operations from a place in any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, or a U.S. territory or possession to a place in any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, or a U.S. territory or possession.

[Doc. No. OST-98-4043, 67 FR 49231, July 30, 2002, as amended by Doc. No. OST-2006-26053, 75 FR 41585, July 16, 2010; DOT-OST-2014-0140, 84 FR 15935, Apr. 16, 2019]
§ 298.62 - Reporting of financial data.

(a) Each commuter air carrier and each small certificated air carrier shall file BTS Form 298-C, Schedule F-1 “Report of Financial Data.” This report shall be filed quarterly as set forth in § 298.60 of this part.

(b) Each carrier shall indicate in the space provided, its full corporate name and the quarter for which the report is filed.

(c) This schedule shall be used to report financial data for the overall or system operations of the carrier. At the option of the carrier, the data may be reported in whole dollars by dropping the cents. Financial data shall be reported in the following categories:

(1) Line 1 “Total Operating Revenues” shall include gross revenues accruing from services ordinarily associated with air transportation and air transportation-related services. This category shall include revenue derived from scheduled service operations, revenue derived from nonscheduled service operations, amounts of compensation paid to the carrier under section 41732 of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII and other transport-related revenue such as in-flight sales, restaurant and food service (ground), rental of property or equipment, limousine service, cargo pick-up and delivery charges, and fixed-base operations involving the selling or servicing of aircraft, flying instructions, charter flights, etc.

(2) Line 2 “Total Operating Expenses” shall include expenses of a character usually and ordinarily incurred in the performance of air transporation and air transportation services. This category shall include expenses incurred: directly in the in-flight operation of aircraft; in the holding of aircraft and aircraft personnel in readiness for assignment to an in-flight status; on the ground in controlling and protecting the in-flight movement of aircraft; landing, handling or servicing aircraft on the ground; selling transportation; servicing and handling traffic; promoting the development of traffic; and administering operations generally. This category shall also include expenses which are specifically identifiable with the repair and upkeep of property and equipment used in the performance of air transportation, all depreciation and amortization expenses applicable to property and equipment used in providing air transportation services, all expenses associated with the transport-related revenues included on line 1 of this schedule, and all other expenses not specifically mentioned which are related to transport operations. Interest expense and other nonoperating expenses attributable to financing or other activities which are extraneous to and not an integral part of air transportation or its incidental services shall not be included in this category.

(3) Line 3 “Net Income or (Loss)” shall reflect all operating and nonoperating items of profit and loss recognized during the period except for prior period adjustments.

(4) Line 4 “Passenger Revenues-Scheduled Service” shall include revenue generated from the transportation of passengers between pairs of points which are served on a regularly scheduled basis.

(d) Data reported on this schedule shall be withheld from public release for a period of 3 years after the close of the calendar quarter to which the report relates.

[ER-1399, 50 FR 20, Jan. 2, 1985, as amended by 53 FR 48528, Dec. 1, 1988; 60 FR 43528, Aug. 22, 1995; 60 FR 66726, Dec. 26, 1995; 67 FR 49234, July 30, 2002; DOT-OST-2014-0140, 84 FR 15935, Apr. 16, 2019]
§ 298.63 - Reporting of aircraft operating expenses and related statistics by small certificated air carriers.

(a) Each small certificated air carrier shall file BTS Form 298-C, Schedule F-2 “Report of Aircraft Operating Expenses and Related Statistics.” This schedule shall be filed quarterly as prescribed in § 298.60. Data reported on this report shall be for the overall or system operations of the air carrier.

(b) Each carrier shall indicate in the space provided its full corporate name and the quarter for which the report is filed.

(c) This schedule shall show the direct and indirect expenses incurred in aircraft operations. Direct expense data applicable to each aircraft type operated by the carrier shall be reported in separate columns of this schedule. Each aircraft type reported shall be identified at the head of each column in the space provided for “Aircraft Type.” “Aircraft Type” refers to aircraft models such as Beech-18, Piper PA-32, etc. Aircraft Type designations are prescribed in the Accounting and Reporting Directives, which is available from the BTS' Office of Airline Information. In the space provided for “Aircraft Code” carriers shall insert the three digit code prescribed in the Accounting and Reporting Directives for the reported aircraft type. (Note: Aircraft of the same type but different cabin configuration may be grouped into a single classification; therefore, carriers are not required to report the fourth digit of an aircraft code indicating cabin configuration.)

(d) Line 1 Direct aircraft operating expenses shall be reported in the following categories:

(1) Line 2 “Flying Operations (Less Rental)” shall be subdivided as follows:

(i) Line 3 “Pilot and Copilot” expense shall include pilots' and copilots' salaries, and related employee benefits, pensions, payroll taxes and personnel expenses.

(ii) Line 4 “Aircraft Fuel and Oil” expense shall include the cost of fuel and oil used in flight operations and nonrefundable aircraft fuel and oil taxes.

(iii) Line 5 “Other” expenses shall include general (hull) insurance, and all other expenses incurred in the in-flight operation of aircraft and holding of aircraft and aircraft operational personnel in readiness for assignment to an in-flight status, which are not provided for otherwise on this schedule.

(2) Line 6 “Total Flying Operations (Less Rentals)” shall equal the sum of lines 3, 4 and 5.

(3) Line 7 “Maintenance-Flight Equipment” shall include the cost of labor, material and related overhead expended by the carrier to maintain flight equipment, general services purchased for flight equipment maintenance from associated or other outside companies, and provisions for flight equipment overhauls.

(4) Line 8 “Depreciation and Rental-Flight Equipment” expense shall include depreciation of flight equipment, amortization of capitalized leases for flight equipment, provision for obsolescence and deterioration of spare parts, and rental expense of flight equipment.

(5) Line 9 “Total Direct Expense” shall equal the sum of lines 6, 7 and 8.

(e) Line 10 Indirect aircraft operating expenses shall be reported only in total for all aircraft types and shall be segregated according to the following categories:

(1) Line 11 “Flight Attendant Expense” shall include flight attendants' salaries, and related employee benefits, pensions, payroll taxes and personnel expenses.

(2) Line 12 “Traffic Related Expense” shall include traffic solicitor salaries, traffic commissions, passenger food expense, traffic liability insurance, advertising and other promotion and publicity expenses, and the fringe benefit expenses related to all salaries in this classification.

(3) Line 13 “Departure Related (Station) Expense” shall include aircraft and traffic handling salaries, landing fees, clearance, customs and duties, related fringe benefit expenses and maintenance and depreciation on ground property and equipment.

(4) Line 14 “Capacity Related Expense” shall include salaries and fringe benefits for general management personnel, recordkeeping and statistical personnel, lawyers and law clerks, and purchasing personnel; legal fees and expenses; stationery; printing; uncollectible accounts; insurance purchased-general; memberships; corporate and fiscal expenses; and all other expenses which cannot be identified or allocated to some other specifically identified indirect cost category.

(f) Line 15 “Total Indirect Expense” shall equal the sum of lines 11, 12, 13 and 14.

(g) Line 16 “Total Operating Expense” shall equal the sum of lines 9 and 15.

(h) Line 17 “Total Gallons of Fuel Issued” shall include the gallons of fuel used in flight operations related to fuel cost reported in total and by aircraft type on Line 4.

[ER-1399, 50 FR 20, Jan. 2, 1985, as amended by Doc. No. 47939, 57 FR 40104, Sept. 2, 1992; 60 FR 66726, Dec. 26, 1995; 67 FR 49234, July 30, 2002]
§ 298.65 - Requests for extensions of time within which to file reports or for waivers from reporting requirements.

(a) If circumstances prevent the filing of BTS Form 298-C on or before the due date, a written request for an extension may be submitted. Except in cases of emergency, the request must be delivered to the BTS's Office of Airline Information in writing at least three days in advance of the due date. The request must state good and sufficient reason to justify the granting of the extension and the date when the reports can be filed. If the request is denied, the air carrier remains subject to the filing requirements to the same extent as if no request for extension of time had been made.

(b) The Office of Airline Information may waive any reporting requirements contained in §§ 298.61, 298.62, 298.63 and 298.64 of this part, upon its own initiative or upon written request from any air carrier if the waiver is in the public interest and the request demonstrates that:

(1) Unusual circumstances warrant such a departure;

(2) A specifically defined alternative procedure or technique will result in a substantially equivalent or more accurate portrayal; and

(3) The application of the alternative procedure will maintain or improve uniformity in reporting between air carriers.

[ER-1399, 50 FR 21, Jan. 2, 1985, as amended by Doc. No. 47939, 57 FR 40104, Sept. 2, 1992; 60 FR 66726, Dec. 26, 1995]
§ 298.66 - Reporting exemption for State collection of data.

(a) The Office of Airline Information may exempt a commuter air carrier from the reporting requirements of § 298.61 of this part if a State government collects the information specified in that section and provides it to the Department by the dates specified. The data provided to the Department in this manner must be at least as reliable as if they were collected by the Department directly.

(b) The Office of Airline Information will provide assistance to any State agency interested in participating in this exemption program.

[ER-1399, 50 FR 21, Jan. 2, 1985, as amended by Doc. No. 47939, 57 FR 40104, Sept. 2, 1992; 60 FR 66726, Dec. 26, 1995]
authority: 49 U.S.C. 329 and chapters 401, 411, and 417
source: ER-929, 40 FR 42855, Sept. 17, 1975, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 14 CFR 298.61