Florida lawmakers supports removal of ADS-B billing

The Florida House of Representatives passed S.B.422 on March 10, after it passed the Senate in February.The Florida bill states that airports cannot use ADS-B data to calculate, generate, or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators. Specifically, it can not be used under two circumstances: The fee is for landing or departing the airport, like in a touch-and-go landing, and not for other services. The fee is based on entering into a specified radius of the airport's airspace. The bill is similar to the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act, which has been gaining support and momentum in Congress. 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. It was highlighted by Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) and Reliable Robotics CEO Robert Rose on Dec. 3, 2025 during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). "ADS-B data should never be used for accessing a pilot's personal information or for being used as a cash register," said Jim Coon, AOPA senior VP of government affairs and advocacy. "It should be used for its intended purpose—to give pilots situational awareness to help avoid midair collisions and for controllers to create airspace efficiencies. When the nation's leading transportation safety expert, state legislatures, airports, companies, and hundreds of thousands of pilots all support PAPA, it's time to address this situation." RELATED STORIES: ROTOR Safety Act fails in House of Representatives AOPA urges members to support privacy act to end ADS-B misuse ADS-B privacy bill highlighted during House Committee hearing on AAM Montana was the first state to ban the collection of ADS-B-based fees from most general aviation pilots in May 2025. Multiple other states have introduced or are considering introducing similar bills, according to the AOPA. "It's also important to point out that none of these bills—at the federal or state level—would prevent an airport from charging ‘necessary and appropriate' landing fees; anyone claiming that is just spreading misinformation," said Coon. "They simply block the use of this safety-enhancing tool to collect them. In light of the DCA accident last year, Congress is debating an ADS-B mandate. That safety goal is undermined as long as this safety tool is being used for collecting fees and not enhancing safety."