The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) — the world’s largest pilot organization — has issued a call to action urging its members to contact Congress in support of new legislation designed to curb the misuse of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data.
Background on ADS-B Technology
ADS-B is a surveillance technology that uses an aircraft’s GPS position to broadcast its location to air traffic control and other aircraft. It has been credited with improving situational awareness and safety since the FAA mandated ADS-B Out equipment in most controlled airspace in 2020.
However, pilots and aircraft owners have grown concerned that data from a safety system is now being used in ways that go beyond its original purpose.
The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA)
AOPA is backing the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) — companion bills filed as S.2175 in the Senate and H.R.4146 in the House — that aim to tighten restrictions on how ADS-B data can be used.
Proposed Protections Under PAPA
The legislation would:
- Prohibit use of ADS-B data to help collect fees from pilots or aircraft owners (e.g., automated landing fee billing based on tracking data).
- Clarify that ADS-B data is for safety and airspace efficiency only, reinforcing its original intent.
- Expand existing privacy protections so that government officials cannot initiate non-criminal investigations solely based on ADS-B data.
- Require transparency from airports proposing new fees linked to aircraft tracking.
PAPA would not stop airports from charging fees altogether or block popular flight-tracking services like FlightAware and Flightradar24.
Why This Matters
Pilot & Owner Concerns
AOPA leaders say that when the ADS-B mandate was introduced, pilots were assured the data would be used only for safety and traffic management. Now, some airports and third-party software firms are using ADS-B to track flights and link them to personal registration data — effectively enabling them to collect fees without prior consent.
Pilots argue that this erodes trust in a system that they spend millions to comply with, potentially discouraging ADS-B equipage and undermining safety gains.
Legislative Debate Continues
The ADS-B privacy debate continues in Congress and among aviation stakeholders. Supporters emphasize strengthening privacy and preserving the technology’s safety focus, while some legal analysts caution that restricting access to flight-tracking data could raise broader transparency and free-speech issues.
Where It Stands
- The call to support PAPA is active, with AOPA encouraging members to contact lawmakers.
- Bills have been introduced in both chambers of Congress, and discussions have been highlighted in committee hearings.
- Debate over the proper scope of ADS-B data use — balancing safety with privacy — is ongoing.
