Officials at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) report that they continue to hear from pilots on a weekly basis who are frustrated and opposed to the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data for purposes beyond its original intent — air traffic safety and airspace efficiency.

On February 18, 2025, AOPA President and CEO Darren Pleasance sent a letter to Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau urging the agency to stop using ADS-B data in ways that stray from its intended purpose. Pleasance highlighted that, before the FAA’s ADS-B mandate took effect in 2020, AOPA supported the mandate, having been assured that ADS-B would solely be used to enhance air traffic safety and improve airspace efficiency.

However, Pleasance pointed to several recent examples showing the growing misuse of ADS-B data, including:

  • Questionable FAA enforcement actions related to legal water landings
  • Frivolous lawsuits against pilots for nuisance, trespass, and emotional distress, despite operating at high altitudes and fully complying with FAA regulations
  • Third-party companies using ADS-B data to access personal information and charge pilots airport fees

“Aircraft owners invested over half a billion dollars of their own money to comply with the ADS-B mandate, believing it would only be used to enhance safety and efficiency. Instead, they are now increasingly being targeted by enforcement actions, legal harassment, and unexpected fees from third parties—far removed from the mandate’s original purpose,” said Pleasance. “We will continue to advocate for pilots’ privacy and ensure that ADS-B remains a tool used solely for safety and airspace efficiency.”

The letter also acknowledged past efforts to address ADS-B privacy, noting that more work still needs to be done. “We fully appreciate the FAA’s collaboration with the industry on the Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) program and the Privacy ICAO Address (PIA) program. Congress recently took a positive step by limiting the use of ADS-B data for certain enforcement actions in last year’s FAA Reauthorization,” the letter stated.

“However, given the ongoing concerns from pilots nationwide regarding the use of ADS-B data for non-safety-related matters, there is still more to be done in this area. I look forward to working with you, the FAA, and Congress to address this important issue,” Pleasance concluded.

You can read the full letter here.

This story found on General Aviation News