ADS-B privacy bill highlighted during House Committee hearing on AAM

The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) was highlighted by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) and Reliable Robotics CEO Robert Rose on Dec. 3 during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The act would limit the use of ADS-B data. It states that no one may use data to identify an aircraft for profit without the owner's or operator's permission. Air traffic controllers would only be allowed to use ADS-B for tracking aircraft and improving air traffic safety and efficiency, unless given public notice by the Secretary of Transportation to do otherwise. Onder emphasised the importance of ensuring the data is used only for its intended purpose of keeping the skies safe and efficient. He is a sponsor of the bill and an instrument-rated pilot. "If ADS-B is being used by, I'll say, bad actors to monetise airport landing fees, that's going to discourage folks from employing ADS-B or adopting ADS-B in the first place or turning it off," said Onder. Rose claimed that PAPA would help improve the adoption of AAM. He also urged Congress to encourage broader adoption of ADS-B Out and to reinstate the ADS-B Out rebate program. "I don't think it should be used for fee collections," said Rose. "It should be used primarily for safety and collision avoidance and situational awareness in the cockpit. I think it's very unfortunate the conversation has shifted more toward fee collections." Celebrities Elon Musk and Taylor Swift have both expressed concerns in the past about being stalked and harassed with ADS-B data after Jack Sweeney, a college student at the time, started publicly tweeting out their aircraft's movements using it. Sweeney told Musk he would stop if he was given a Tesla, but Musk bought the social media site and shut down his account. Swift's legal team sent him a cease-and-desist letter over his tracking."Representative Onder's legislation, the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act, would enhance safety and privacy by prohibiting the use of ADS-B collision avoidance technology for fee collection," said AOPA President Darren Pleasance. "When the legislation becomes law, airports will still be able to collect fees—they just couldn't use this safety technology to do so. States are also considering legislation to prohibit this practice, but Representative Onder's bill would establish a national policy so as to avoid a patchwork of laws across the country." RELATED STORIES: Senate panel approves bill that requires all aircraft to use ADS-B tracking Abby's Ramp Ramble - Somebody's Watching Me (Charging an ADS-B Fee) Taylor Swift complains of private jet privacy; Elon Musk and NBAA weigh in PIA privacy program no match for teen tracking Elon Musk's Gulfstream on Twitter through ADS-B data