Install
Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act
A bill to establish requirements and limitations regarding the use of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act
This bill limits how Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data may be used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and government agencies. The bill also establishes disclosure requirements for certain user fees imposed on general aviation aircraft at public-use airports and limits the purposes for which the fees may be used.
As background, ADS-B transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.
The bill prohibits a person or government agency from using ADS-B data to identify an aircraft in order to assess a fee or otherwise impose a charge on the aircraft owner or operator.
The bill also specifies that air traffic controllers may only use ADS-B data to assist in tracking aircraft and improving air traffic safety and efficiency, or for other purposes determined appropriate by the Department of Transportation after notice and public comment.
Further, the bill prohibits any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal official from initiating an investigation (excluding a criminal investigation) of a person based exclusively on ADS-B data. Under current law, this prohibition only applies to the FAA.
In addition, owners and operators of public-use airports must publicly disclose financial information about certain expenses and cost estimates for airside safety projects (e.g., runway or taxiway safety improvements) prior to charging landing or takeoff fees for general aviation aircraft (e.g., aircraft used for personal, recreational, or flight training purposes). Further, any revenue from these fees may only be used for airside safety projects.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- Jun 25, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Jun 25, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Congressional and federal records come from official public sources: the House Clerk, the U.S. Senate, GovInfo and the Library of Congress (bill status), the Federal Register, and the congress-legislators project. They are copied on a schedule and may lag the official record by a few hours; the official sources govern. News and coverage counts are drawn from the 4Search index and reflect what the press published, not 4Search's views. Nothing here is an endorsement of any candidate, party or position. Terms of use.