Pilots in California County Opposed to Landing Fees

They feel ADS-B is being used as a governmental revenue stream.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A look at Murray Field in Humboldt County, California. [Credit: Gene Joyce]

Key Takeaways:

Humboldt County, California, has implemented a new system via Vector Airport Systems' PlanePass to track transient aircraft using ADS-B data and bill pilots for landing and parking fees at its four airports, effective March 1, 2025.
Pilots are resisting these new fees, particularly at minimal facilities, expressing concerns that using a safety system like ADS-B for revenue generation could create safety issues (e.g., incentivizing non-compliance) and negatively impact local economies by deterring visitors.
This issue reflects a national trend where pilots and organizations like AOPA are pushing back against the use of ADS-B for purposes beyond its intended safety and air traffic efficiency, with AOPA advising pilots on how to redact ownership data to prevent third-party access.

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Would you pay $23 for self-serve fuel and a portable toilet? That’s a question for pilots who intend to fly into California’s Humboldt County need to ask themselves because the county has contracted with Vector Airport Systems’ PlanePass to manage the landing and transient parking tracking and billing program at the four county-run airports.

As of March 1, transient pilots received a bill for landing at California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (KACV), Murray Field (KEKA), Rohnerville Airport (KFOT), and Garberville Airport (O16).