The skies might be getting a little less transparent for celebrities and business leaders who fly private. Tucked away in a recent 1,100-page FAA reauthorization bill is a provision that could significantly hamper the ability of online enthusiasts to track the movements of private jets. This new data privacy section empowers aircraft owners to request their flight information be withheld from public websites.
For years, websites like FlightAware and FlightRadar24 have relied on FAA data to display the location and flight paths of private jets. While some owners have utilized existing programs like the Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) list and Privacy ICAO address (PIA) to obscure their travels, these options have limitations. The LADD program only applies within the US, and PIA codes haven’t been usable for international travel.
The new law appears to address these limitations. Reports suggest it might allow owners using PIA to fly internationally and potentially further restrict the amount of publicly available identifying data about their aircraft and flights. However, the exact details remain unclear.
Enterprising jet-trackers like Jack Sweeney, the college student who rose to fame for tracking Elon Musk’s private jet, remain cautiously optimistic about their ability to adapt. Sweeney, who famously declined Musk’s $5,000 offer to stop tracking his flights, acknowledges the new law might pose challenges but believes “context clues” and alternative data sources like ADS-B Exchange, which uses volunteer radio networks to track aircraft, can still be used for identification.
The motivations behind the legislation seem to stem from growing security concerns voiced by celebrities and businesspeople. While some argue for complete transparency, others highlight the potential safety risks associated with having their every move readily available online.
The FAA has committed to implementing the new law, and its impact on the online jet-tracking community remains to be seen. This could mark a significant shift in the ongoing battle between privacy-seeking aircraft owners and determined online sleuths, with both sides likely developing new tactics in the coming months.
