FAA - DOT to Provide Greater Public Access to General Aviation Flight Information

[MtnBiker2005]

Sounds like good news to Flight Tracking sites using the FAA ASDI data. ( FlightAware.com , Flightstats.com ,etc)

Plus we all be able to track RadioReference.com Owner Airbus 380 VIP Jet. When he gets one! Tracking him as he fly's around United States/World setting up scanner feeds


Press Release – DOT to Provide Greater Public Access to General Aviation Flight Information
For Immediate Release
May 27, 2011

The public will soon have greater access to on-line information about the flight paths of general aviation aircraft, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. The change will be effective 60 days from publication in the Federal Register.

Operators of general aviation aircraft no longer will be able to cite privacy as a reason to prevent the public from viewing their flight information on Internet sites that show the registration number, flight path, departure point and destination, and flight length for all aircraft operations over the United States. In the future, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will block public viewing of this information only after the operators certify that they have a valid security concern. As before, neither the sites nor the aircraft owner or operator will disclose the identity of persons on the flight, the purpose of the flight or the reason for the security concern.

“This action is in keeping with the Obama administration’s commitment to transparency in government,” Secretary LaHood said. “Both general aviation and commercial aircraft use the public airspace and air traffic control facilities, and the public has a right to information about their activities.”

Since 1997, air carriers, corporations that own and operate aircraft, professional aviation organizations and government agencies have had access to the real-time flight information of both airlines and general aviation through the Aircraft Situational Display to Industry (ASDI) and National Airspace System Status Information (NASSI) websites. Other members of the public have been able to subscribe to this information with the data delayed five minutes for security reasons. While commercial air carriers’ schedules are available to the public, the operations of general aviation aircraft cannot be tracked except through one of these electronic systems.

In the future, the only way operators and owners of general aviation aircraft will be able to block displays of their flight information is by providing the FAA written certification that revealing this to the public would pose a valid security threat.

Today’s amendment makes final a proposal issued on March 1.
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=12743
_______________________________________________

FAA says Private-Plane Flight Plans Must Be Public
https://flightaware.com/squawks/vie...ays_Private_Plane_Flight_Plans_Must_Be_Public

Private-Plane Owners Can’t Keep Flight Plan Secret, FAA Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-27/private-plane-flight-plans-must-be-public-faa.html

May 28, 2011 - DOT Adopts BARR Rule
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/DOT_Adopts_BARR_Rule_204733-1.html

May 28, 2011 - NBAA: FAA's Elimination of BARR Amounts to a 'Paparazzi Protection Rule'
http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2011/20110528-039.php
__________________________________________________
Other Older Links Before the Above FAA Press Release:
WSJ Jet Tracker - WSJ.com
http://projects.wsj.com/jettracker
WSJ(5/21) For The Highest Fliers, New Scrutiny
http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/markets/newsfeeditem.aspx?id=142552112133324

NBAA SENDS JOINT LETTER TO CONGRESS URGING PRESERVATION OF THE BARR
http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/avi-wire-news-display/1417245501.html

(BARR) PROGRAM
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/security/barr/
http://www.nbaa.org/ops/security/barr/background/

May 27, 2011 - Why Supressing N-Numbers Is a Bad Idea
http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AvwebInsider_BARRProgram_204729-1.html

March 7, 2011 - FAA Moves to Limit Blockout System Hiding Private Jet Flights
http://www.propublica.org/article/faa-moves-to-limit-secrecy-for-private-jets
http://www.propublica.org/article/f...-rule-allowing-private-planes-to-keep-flights

 

[b7spectra]

I can guarantee you there will be $Millions if not $Billions spent by the private sector to block this. Being able to see where corporate execs fly for fun? Bahamas, Hawaii, Europe - where there is absolutely no location or portion of their business!

 

[DaveNF2G]

So why should they not be allowed to take vacations?

Besides, all anyone will be able to see is where the aircraft are, not who happens to be aboard.

I wonder if this means that FlightAware will have these flights, and how soon the "blocked by owner request" restrictions will be removed.

 

[rmiller818]

If I was FlightAware I would see a huge opportunity. I could see companies and individuals paying them directly to block their flights.

 

[b7spectra]

The owners were paying into a service to have their flights blocked. FlightAware and others get to see the data AFTER the flights were stripped.

I agree the CEO's and others should take vacations. And if you are a company that is in dire straights for $$$, let them spend their own money and fly commercial.

Example:

Flight from DTW (Detroit) to BDA (Bermuda) - $1,048 pp Business Class R/T on Delta
Flight from DTW (Detroit) to BDA (Bermuda) - $1,850 per hour on a Canadair CL600

Now the flight info on the Canadair doesn't sound too bad, but remember, that is PER hour. Flight time is 2 hours 27 minutes. Now, also add in landing & departure fees x2 (you don't think that jet and crew of 3 - 2 pilots, 1 FA are going to spend the week there, too?) you are looking at a MINIMUM of $18,500 for the cost of the flight. And some of these companies are looking for government handouts!

AND THIS IS JUST FOR 1 TRIP TO BERMUDA!

 

[Austin4Wyo]

b7, that's an issue to be taken up with the business side of things, not the aviation side of things. I agree with you, but it has little bearing on the issue of better information being provided.

 

[KD9KSO]

Not a wise idea, but VFR flights within CONUS don't have to file a flight plan at all. IFR flight plans can be filed enroute, and can be cancelled as well be fore the destination is reached.

I would have to check if that applies to 121 and/or 135 ops.

 

[VE5JL]

If I was FlightAware I would see a huge opportunity. I could see companies and individuals paying them directly to block their flights.

FlightAware is not the end all and be all of flight tracking. If they wish do to that, that will not stop someone from having a site where the information isn't blocked.

In the case of John Travolta I tracked his planes for years. After his son Jet died he blocked them because of the paparazzi and nuts scrutinizing his flights on the day of Jets death. It is a shame as a hobbyists I have to suffer because of it.

However on the other hand we live in a world full of nuts and some Manchurian Candidate might take a shot at a plane of a celebrity on final approach to make a name for themselves. This could also be in the same category of streaming audio for police services.

 

[rmiller818]

FlightAware is not the end all and be all of flight tracking. If they wish do to that, that will not stop someone from having a site where the information isn't blocked.

True, but where do you think most people go to track flights? I could still see them coming up with a system where people could pay them directly to block their flights on FlightAware.

 

[ootsk35]

Not a wise idea, but VFR flights within CONUS don't have to file a flight plan at all. IFR flight plans can be filed enroute, and can be cancelled as well be fore the destination is reached.

I would have to check if that applies to 121 and/or 135 ops.

As far as 121/135, depending on the FAA authorization for each company, it's normal to be required to file IFR prior to departure and not be able to file while in the air. VFR they are required to file a VFR flight plan with FSS so most just go IFR anyways.

The problem with not blocking the tailnumbers is not that they necessarily care, it's the corporate ramifications. I used to work for a large US-based company in the midwest that had a fleet of corporate aircraft (think 10) that would fly all over the US including Southeast Asia and Europe. Most of the issues the company had, dealt with the fact that the competitors could track where the company was going. In fact because they couldn't track my company was able to buyout another company when the competitions deal fell through. I have an issue with it because of security. But that is far and wide a much longer post than I have time for.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

U.S. Senators Call on DOT to Scrap Plans for Dismantling BARR

UPDATE:

U.S. Senators Call on DOT to Scrap Plans for Dismantling BARR
National Business Aviation Association
Washington, D.C., June 30, 2011 – A bi-partisan group of 26 U.S. senators have signed a June 29 letter to

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood raising concerns that the government's plan to dismantle the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program represents "a troubling reversal of a decade-old policy put in place to uphold the privacy rights of thousands of Americans."

Organized by Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Mark Begich (D-AK), the letter notes that the BARR program "provides owners of general aviation aircraft the ability to prevent the public dissemination of their aircraft movements. For reasons of individual security, privacy, and business competitiveness, this program is essential."

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen welcomed the support from such a large and influential group of senators, saying "Congress recognizes that important principles of privacy and security, and competitiveness for U.S. businesses are at stake.

More at:
http://www.amtonline.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=13952

http://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2011/20110630-053.php

http://flightaware.com/squawks/view...32/Senators_Request_Privacy_Protection_for_GA

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/barr-battle-moves-into-the-courts-30354/

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/avi-wire-news-display/1447069061.html
http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/avi-wire-news-display/1447069091.html

 

[MtnBiker2005]

UPDATE:

Lawmakers from both houses of Congress have joined the battle over the Department of Transportation’s decision to dismantle the Block Aircraft Registration Request (Barr) program, with 26 senators and 33 representatives telling DOT Secretary Ray LaHood in separate letters that it is “a troubling reversal of a decade-old policy” established to uphold the privacy rights of Americans. The senators noted that in light of advances of for-profit flight tracking services, Congress included a provision . . .

Lawmakers decry Barr restrictions - July 31, 2011
http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/lawmakers-decry-barr-restrictions-30702/

Lawmakers decry aircraft blocking restrictions
http://flightaware.com/squawks/view...awmakers_decry_aircraft_blocking_restrictions

 

[b7spectra]

I love this page:

List of Blocked Aircraft June 16 2011

 

[ff-medic]

I thought aircraft tracking was supposed to not be terrifically accurate ; Like GPS , due to terrorism
reasons.

FF - Medic !!!