Congress Weighs In on Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act

A US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing has reignited a debate over ADS-B data use, with lawmakers and industry leaders urging Congress to establish new guardrails around aircraft tracking. The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) would restrict ADS-B use to safety functions and prohibit airports or entities from relying on the data for fee collection or law-enforcement actions unrelated to aviation safety. The bill has bipartisan support, but critics argue that restricting access to ADS-B information complicates operational oversight and airport financing. The FAA is considering new requirements under emerging Part 108 regulating unmanned aircraft, which may further highlight the need for clear guidelines on ADS-B data use. The issue was first reported by AeroTime.