New law enhances privacy for private jet flights amid growing concerns

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New law enhances privacy for private jet flights amid growing concerns

Jon Jezo National Accounts Manager | AviationPros

By Sky Industry News

Jul 8, 2024

David Gitman, President of private jet charter company Monarch Air Group, provides insight into recent developments in private jet flight tracking amidst a new law protecting the identities of aircraft owners and passengers.

The tracking of aircraft, especially private jets, has long been established. Advances in technology, increasing interest in celebrities' and high-net-worth individuals' lifestyles, and climate change have heightened its relevance. Flight tracking services utilize ADS-B transponders, GPS, and satellite tracking to collect data about aircraft activity. Air traffic controllers use ADS-B to track an aircraft’s position, allowing operators to know their aircraft's location at any given time and make quick diversions if necessary.

"ADS-B was never intended for people to stalk or harass those who use private jets," said Gitman. "But it has become more of an issue and a safety and security concern for some."

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In recent years, there has been significant concern among private jet owners wishing to keep their travel information confidential. This concern is rooted not only in personal privacy but also in security issues. Additionally, public scrutiny over carbon emissions from private jets has added pressure on owners. In response, President Biden passed a new law enabling private jet owners to travel with greater privacy.

The new legislation builds on existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs aimed at reducing the tracking of private jet flights. It allows aircraft owners to withhold their data from public sites by flying under temporary registration and blocking information except when legally required.

Previously, all US-registered aircraft had accessible registration and owner information through the FAA’s civil registry. To obscure ownership details, some resorted to registering their planes under shell companies or LLCs.

The FAA now offers several programs that enhance privacy for private jet owners:

1. **Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD)**: This program enables aircraft owners or operators to filter flight data from distribution via the FAA System Wide Information Management (SWIM) data feed or from public display by participating websites.

2. **Privacy ICAO Aircraft Address Program (PIA)**: This initiative limits real-time ADS-B position and identification information availability for specific US-registered aircraft equipped with 1090 MHz ADS-B flying within US-managed regions. Under the new law, PIA applicants can now travel internationally.

Despite these measures, complete anonymity is challenging due to non-FAA third parties like ADS-B Exchange that collect global receiver data presenting real-time information such as airspeed, altitude, and flight details from non-encrypted ADS-B transponders.

Gitman concludes that while the new law and FAA programs will enhance privacy for private jet owners significantly more than before, achieving total invisibility remains difficult due to transparency needs balanced against privacy concerns.

David Gitman is president of Monarch Air Group.

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