Writer

Amy Wilder

Aircraft owners can now block their personal information, including names and addresses, from public display on FAA websites, the agency announced on Friday. This change, mandated by Section 803 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63), enables owners to submit privacy requests through the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) system.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed the FAA’s decision to strengthen data privacy protections, citing security concerns for business aviation operators. NBAA has been advocating for improved privacy and <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-10-23/flight-deck-panelists-address-identity-tracking-threats">held a panel on the subject</a> at the 2024 NBAA-BACE convention in Las Vegas.&nbsp;
“Security is a huge issue for companies large and small, all across the country, which is one of the reasons Congress passed bipartisan legislation requiring the FAA to strengthen the protections for aircraft ownership information and flight-data,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased with the steps the FAA has taken to protect entrepreneurs and businesses.”&nbsp;&nbsp;
Publicly available aircraft ownership data has raised broad industry concerns about passenger safety, corporate espionage, and unauthorized tracking, prompting bipartisan congressional action in 2024. As part of the ongoing implementation process, the FAA plans to seek public comments via the Federal Register to assess whether restricting this information might affect essential functions, such as safety checks, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) also supported the move. “This program is long overdue and a significant win for pilot privacy,” said AOPA president and CEO Darren Pleasance. He added that AOPA would continue working with Congress and the FAA to ensure pilots’ private information remains fully protected.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-02-19/aopa-urges-faa-limit-ads-b-data-usage">AOPA has raised concerns with the FAA in the past</a> over the misuse of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, urging the agency to limit its use beyond air traffic safety and efficiency. In a <a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.527-2F-2B26Al84AdRK7iiHEXfnm3QO5e8hgjuR-2BMAeP-2B5gPH-2BL-2FuTtXYFlH6nWDHNJ5raBk2YO5NggAW2m6v1BKFQHFw28juVItLEznQ9jJ58Q-3DTHqA_AqbWDqIYe0DEJCPTl8KKvolUxZcqH1KHgmfApu7rjuApS5ZdVR3Ui8ZhLhvjdmSHc-2BpEMbOyb7kMyTA0sXKV-2FOH7yetOjX4DDbf0Z-2FdiRgd9DtIRopOPT80l9rIe32y8y2WlEr9mFucwjLFEPRRG-2F77nT8-2FtLgdZFU7HnEc6zrnmDXDfaWCTW5JE71M9zeLUhNZUEmB4CKsCCpm8IRaFdX-2B0Z-2B0-2FzNyg8XV5Ev6xvvWV5j7d1dCBY91hZIaOErJyOuapqVsU9Xvvb624olj38avkx4Os3JeHE3OdBIi9LrYi3ob8JOGWWkH0E3fJvebT6r0w-2F3bN8uwt5T0nT0yDxBmf0nHge7CSpkJY07eDkfmr9l4570MQitPiQVPm1bnGpzUJreLR7kDQg5nyNdaQAw-3D-3D">February 18 letter</a>, Pleasance pointed out the increasing use of ADS-B data for enforcement actions, frivolous lawsuits, and the collection of airport landing fees, which he argued compromise pilot privacy and safety. AOPA continues to push for stronger protections as the FAA works to address these issues.
As part of its ongoing evaluation, the FAA is considering whether to automatically withhold personally identifiable information from the public aircraft registry by default while providing owners with a means to access their data when necessary.&nbsp;

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