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, CA, has implemented a new system effective March 1, 2025, using ADS-B data to automatically bill transient pilots for landing and parking fees at its four airports, while local aircraft are exempt.
The new fee structure has generated significant backlash from pilots, who find the costs excessive for minimal amenities, leading them to plan to avoid the county's airports and raising concerns about potential safety issues from the misuse of ADS-B data.
This local controversy reflects a broader national concern among pilots and organizations like AOPA, who are actively protesting the use of ADS-B for revenue generation and advocating for data redaction and legislative prohibitions against such practices.

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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).