Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2175
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-19T16:46:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (S. 2175) aims to protect the privacy of aircraft owners and operators, particularly in general aviation, by restricting the use of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data—a technology that broadcasts an aircraft's position for air traffic management. It also regulates fees imposed on general aviation aircraft at public airports and limits the disclosure of certain aviation information during investigations.
Key Provisions
- Restrictions on ADS-B Data Use (Section 2):
- Prohibits any person or government agency from using ADS-B data to identify aircraft for the purpose of charging fees or imposing costs on owners or operators.
- Allows air traffic controllers to use ADS-B data only for tracking aircraft to enhance safety and efficiency, or for other purposes approved by the Secretary of Transportation after public notice and comment.
- Limitations in Investigations (Section 3):
- Expands existing protections under 49 U.S.C. § 46101(c)(1) to prevent not only the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator but also any federal, state, local, territorial, or Tribal official from disclosing certain aircraft information during investigations or proceedings.
- Regulations on Fees for General Aviation Aircraft (Section 4):
- Requires public-use airport owners or operators to publicly disclose specific information before imposing landing or takeoff fees on general aviation aircraft (defined as aircraft used for personal, recreational, flight training, or non-scheduled commercial/military purposes). Disclosures must include:
- Efforts to cut non-airfield-related (non-airside) expenses.
- Attempts to generate revenue from sources other than general aviation fees.
- Cost estimates, funding allocation, and timelines for airfield safety projects funded by these fees.
- An assessment of how fees might affect local general aviation activities, including impacts on pilots, students, charities, and businesses.
- Limits revenue from these fees to airfield safety projects only (e.g., runways, taxiways, and lighting).
- Authorizes the FAA Administrator to issue regulations or reporting rules to enforce these requirements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds new sections to 49 U.S.C. (Chapters 447 and 401): Introduces § 44749 on ADS-B data limitations and § 40133 on general aviation fees, including clerical updates to the legal table of contents.
- Amends 49 U.S.C. § 46101(c)(1): Broadens the scope of non-disclosure protections from solely the FAA to all levels of government officials, strengthening privacy safeguards in investigative contexts.
- These changes build on existing aviation safety laws by adding privacy and transparency mandates, without altering core FAA authority over air traffic.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The FAA and air traffic controllers face stricter guidelines on data use, potentially requiring new procedures or public consultations for non-safety applications. Broader non-disclosure rules may limit information sharing in multi-jurisdictional investigations.
- On Citizens: General aviation pilots, owners, and operators (e.g., recreational flyers, flight students) gain enhanced privacy from ADS-B tracking for non-safety purposes and fee assessments. However, it could indirectly increase airport costs if fees are delayed or reduced, affecting public access to facilities.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. aviation; it may influence how U.S. airports handle international general aviation traffic through fee transparency.
- Overall, it promotes cost efficiency at airports while protecting small-scale aviation from excessive financial burdens.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- General Aviation Community: Pilots, aircraft owners, flight schools, charities, and businesses relying on non-commercial flights benefit from privacy protections and fee restrictions.
- Airports: Public-use airport operators must comply with disclosure and fund-use rules, potentially complicating fee implementations but encouraging alternative revenue strategies.
- Government Entities: FAA, Department of Transportation, and other federal/state/local officials are directly regulated in data use and investigations.
- Air Traffic System Users: Commercial airlines and military operations are largely unaffected, as provisions target general aviation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces privacy in aviation data under federal law (title 49 U.S.C.), potentially setting precedents for regulating surveillance technologies like ADS-B. The public comment requirement for data uses aligns with administrative law standards for transparency.
- Constitutional: Supports privacy interests akin to Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches, by limiting government access to location data without clear safety justifications; no direct challenges to free speech or due process are evident.
- Political: Addresses concerns from rural and general aviation advocates about overreach in tracking and fees, possibly influencing bipartisan support in aviation policy. It may spark debates on balancing safety with individual privacy in an era of increasing aircraft surveillance.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-06-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act — issued 2025-06-25 — PDF (5 pages)