FAA Enhances ADS-B Privacy Program for Improved Aircraft Tracking Shield
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has introduced major enhancements to its ADS-B Privacy International Civil Aviation Organization Address program (PIA). The updated program simplifies the process for pilots who wish to opt out of real-time flight tracking. Since its inception in 2019, the enhanced program now allows pilots to request temporary ICAO aircraft addresses. These addresses are not linked to the registered aircraft owner, thus providing an effective shield against public tracking while preserving air traffic control functionality.
The most notable update is the exemption of aircraft information, held by the FAA and associated with a PIA, from Freedom of Information Act requests. This significant change addresses the escalating privacy concerns within the general aviation community. This concern is particularly prevalent among high-net-worth individuals and corporate operators who have identified tracking capabilities as a deterrent to equipping aircraft with ADS-B technology.
According to the FAA, the program mandates participating aircraft to meet the following criteria:
- Be U.S.-registered
- Equipped with 1090 MHz ADS-B
- Use third-party call signs
- Operate in U.S.-managed flight information regions
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) have been staunch advocates for these privacy protections.
[source]https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/12/12/faa-updates-ads-b-privacy-program/[/source]