FAA Enhances ADS-B Privacy Program for Aircraft Operators
The Federal Aviation Administration has recently updated its ADS-B Privacy International Civil Aviation Organization Address (PIA) program. These significant changes aim to enhance operator privacy and streamline the opt-out process for real-time flight tracking.
The updates, which came into effect this week, include a key change: exempting aircraft information held by the FAA and associated with a PIA from Freedom of Information Act requests. This is a major step towards ensuring privacy for aircraft operators.
Under the enhanced program, aircraft operators can now request temporary ICAO aircraft addresses. These addresses will not be associated with their names in the Civil Aviation Registry. This effectively shields them from public flight tracking, while still maintaining air traffic control functionality.
These changes are timely, as Congress is currently pushing the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA). This act would prohibit airports from using ADS-B data for fee collection purposes.
According to FAA officials, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 permits withholding “the registration number and other similar identifiable data or information” at the request of aircraft owners. This is another measure designed to protect the privacy of aircraft operators.
The enhanced program allows pilots to request new PIA assignments after 20-day periods. They can then use these assignments for as long as they wish, providing greater flexibility and control over their privacy.
Source: https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/12/12/faa-updates-ads-b-privacy-program/