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 has implemented an automatic billing system (PlanePass by Vector Airport Systems) that uses ADS-B data to charge transient pilots for landing and parking fees at four county airports, effective March 1.
Pilots are expressing significant dissatisfaction, citing concerns about the high fees for basic facilities, the county's lack of community input, and the potential safety implications of using ADS-B (intended for safety) for revenue generation.
This issue is part of a national controversy, with groups like AOPA assisting pilots in redacting ownership data to prevent third-party billing and supporting legislative efforts (like in Montana) to prohibit the use of ADS-B for landing fees.

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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).