ADS-B Data Being Used 'Outside Intended Purpose,' GA Pilot Group Says

Pilots are facing 'frivolous lawsuits,' airport fees, and agency investigations based on data, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 05:24 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

ADS-B equipment self-reports an aircraft's position. [Credit: Aspen Avionics/ FLYING file photo]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots are raising privacy concerns over the FAA's use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, which was originally mandated for aviation safety and air traffic management.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has urged the FAA to stop using ADS-B data beyond its intended purpose, citing "frivolous lawsuits" and FAA investigations against members.
Pilots are reportedly facing legal actions, including trespassing claims and FAA enforcement, and a "cottage industry" is using ADS-B data to collect airport fees, even for flights compliant with regulations.

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When the FAA announced the requirement for the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) for GA aircraft, pilots were told this technology would increase aviation safety, as it would replace radar as the primary means for ATC to manage traffic separation.

Instead of having a person watch a radar scope for targets, the GPS on board and ADS-B equipment self-report the aircraft’s position and lets the pilot know the whereabouts of traffic around them. And it has been doing that since its implementation in 2020.