We built AirSpace Auctions on transparency. Every logbook digitized, every component photographed, every detail documented.
But there’s a difference between transparency that serves the aviation community and data exploitation that drives pilots away from airports.
The congressional Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act addresses something we’ve witnessed firsthand: ADS-B data being weaponized against the very pilots who invested in it for safety.
The Bait and Switch That Broke Trust
General aviation pilots spent more than $600 million complying with the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B mandate. We were told this technology would improve safety and efficiency in the national airspace system.
Nobody mentioned it would be used to send surprise bills weeks after a simple touch-and-go.
Picture this scenario we’ve heard countless times: A pilot building hours does pattern work at a municipal airport. No ramp time, no tie-down. Just touch-and-go practice essential for maintaining proficiency.
Three weeks later, a bill arrives in the mail. The FBO used ADS-B data to identify the aircraft, pulled the owner’s information from the N-registry, and charged for a “landing.”
No consent. No communication. No warning.
Sniper Attacks on Aviation Accessibility
These surprise billing practices are what we call “sniper attacks” on general aviation. They’re designed to generate revenue without regard for pilot relationships or community impact.
Pilots are goal-oriented and communicative by nature. When an airport pulls this kind of stunt, word spreads fast through Facebook groups and pilot lounges. Airports get blacklisted, but the damage extends beyond individual facilities.
Student pilots and time-builders start avoiding pattern work entirely. Flight training becomes more expensive and less accessible. The entire aviation ecosystem suffers.
Four of five Florida airports recently proposed identical landing fees of $3 per 1,000 pounds. This coordination suggests a systematic approach to monetizing ADS-B data rather than addressing genuine operational costs.
Technology Serving Pilots, Not Exploiting Them
We understand the value of data in aviation. Our entire business model depends on comprehensive aircraft information and transparent transactions.
But transparency should serve the aviation community, not exploit it.
When we document an aircraft for auction, sellers consent to sharing that information. Buyers benefit from complete visibility into what they’re purchasing. Everyone wins because the process is consensual and adds value.
ADS-B data misuse operates differently. Pilots never consented to commercial surveillance when they invested in safety equipment. They’re being billed for operations they never agreed to pay for.
Legislative Protection for General Aviation
The proposed legislation strikes the right balance. It preserves ADS-B data for its intended safety purposes while preventing commercial exploitation.
Airports can still charge landing fees. They just can’t use automated surveillance to ambush pilots weeks after the fact.
This protection is essential for maintaining general aviation accessibility. When small airports become financial traps, pilots avoid them. When pilots avoid airports, those facilities lose the traffic that justifies their existence.
Montana already enacted similar state-level protection. Other states are considering comparable measures. Federal legislation would provide consistent nationwide standards.
Protecting the Future of General Aviation
We operate from Cisco Municipal Airport in Texas. We see daily how general aviation depends on trust between pilots and airport operators.
When that trust breaks down, everyone loses. Pilots find alternative airports or reduce their flying. Airports lose revenue and community support. The entire general aviation network weakens.
The congressional bill represents more than privacy protection. It’s about preserving the accessibility that makes general aviation viable for regular people.
From single-seat experimentals to business jets, our customers need airports they can trust. Surprise billing practices threaten that foundation.
We support transparency in aircraft transactions because it creates value for everyone involved.
The difference matters for the future of general aviation.
Congress should pass this legislation. Pilots invested in ADS-B technology for safety, not surveillance. It’s time to protect that investment and preserve the accessibility that keeps general aviation thriving.