Legislation Introduced to
Stop ADS-B Misuse
Companion bills introduced by Congress seek to address growing concerns about the misuse of ADS-B flight tracking data that has been increasingly used by some airports and state governments to collect fees from pilots.
U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., drafted the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act while U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo., introduced the PAPA Act of 2025.
The bills seek to:
- Prohibit the use of ADS-B data to assist in the collection of fees from pilots or aircraft owners.
- Clarify that ADS-B data may only be used for its intended purposes of air traffic safety and efficiency.
- Give the Secretary of Transportation the discretion to authorize other uses of ADS-B data.
- Expand, to all federal, state and local entities, a provision in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 preventing investigations from being initiated based solely on ADS-B data.
- Require public-use airports to make transparent the impact of any new fees on general aviation and businesses and require any imposed landing fees be used for airside safety improvements.
- “On behalf of AOPA, I want to thank Sen. Budd and Rep. Onder for leading on this important aviation safety issue. Both are active private pilots and understand that using ADS-B data for economic reasons clearly undermines the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B safety mandate intended to provide situational awareness of an aircraft’s position for air traffic control purposes,” AOPA President and CEO Darren Pleasance said in a statement.
General aviation pilots spent more than $600 million dollars complying with the FAA’s 2020 safety mandate, according to AOPA, and were assured that ADS-B would only be used for improving safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte recently signed into law legislation championed by state Rep. Shane Klakken that would prevent airports in Montana from using ADS-B data to collect landing fees. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the Minnesota legislature.
“We appreciate the recognition this issue is receiving at the state level, but we do want to avoid a patchwork of laws across the country and that is why these bills in Congress are so important,” Pleasance said. Source: aopa.org
Reaction to New FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford
In July, Congress confirmed Bryan Bedford as the next Federal Aviation Administration administrator, where he will lead 40,000 employees working to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the national airspace system.
Bedford holds a multi-engine, instrumented-rated private pilot license and brings more than 35 years of aviation experience to the FAA, including 26 years as CEO of Republic Airways. His previous jobs include president and chief executive of Mesaba Airlines, president and chief executive officer of Business Express Airlines, chief financial officer of Phoenix Airline Services and chief financial officer for West Air Airlines. He graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.
Here’s what the leaders of general aviation’s organizations had to say:
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association President Darren Pleasance: “We congratulate Administrator Bedford on his confirmation and look forward to working together to strengthen general aviation and advance the modernization of our nation’s air traffic control system. Being both an airline executive and pilot gives Bryan a unique and valuable perspective on the entire aviation ecosystem.”
Experimental Aircraft Association CEO and Chairman of the Board Jack J. Pelton: “We congratulate Bryan Bedford on his confirmation as the new Administrator for the FAA. There is a long list of challenges as we seek to maintain America’s aviation infrastructure and air traffic system as the finest in the world and preserve the freedom of flight for individuals who want to be involved in any facet of aviation.”
General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO James Viola: “GAMA congratulates FAA Administrator Bedford on his confirmation. His decades of industry experience and knowledge, combined with his strong leadership skills, will be called upon to strengthen the agency and oversee the modernization of U.S aviation technology infrastructure. We are eager to work with the administrator and the entire FAA team during this critical time as we work together to strengthen aviation safety and advance innovation. Additionally, we thank Chris Rocheleau for his leadership and service as Acting Administrator and we look forward to continuing our work with him as FAA Deputy Administrator.”
National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen: “We welcome Bryan Bedford’s confirmation to lead the FAA, where his strategic thinking, extensive leadership experience and consistent focus on safety will guide the agency and industry in working together on the development of a robust and resilient ATC network. We look forward to working with Bryan to ensure that the United States continues to operate the world’s largest, safest, most diverse aviation system.”