S. 2175 — Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act

This section establishes restrictions on the use of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data—a GPS-based aircraft surveillance technology integral to the Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen air traffic management system—by prohibiting any person, including a government agency, from using it to identify aircraft for assessing fees or charges on owners or operators. It further limits air traffic controllers' use of ADS-B data to (1) tracking aircraft to improve safety and efficiency or (2) other purposes deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Transportation after notice and public comment.

This section expands the prohibition on using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data—aircraft location and identification data broadcast for air traffic surveillance—in investigations or enforcement actions to include not only the FAA Administrator but also any other Federal, State, local, territorial, or Tribal official. (Thus, such officials may not disclose or use ADS-B data as evidence in civil aircraft registration violation cases, except as specified.)

This section establishes disclosure, use, and rulemaking requirements for public-use airports prior to imposing landing or take-off fees on general aviation aircraft (i.e., aircraft used for personal, recreational, or flight training purposes or other than scheduled airline operations or military flights). Specifically, airports must publicly disclose (1) efforts to reduce non-airside expenses and obtain alternative revenues, (2) cost estimates, fee allocations, and timelines for airside safety projects (i.e., runway, taxiway, and related infrastructure), and (3) assessments of fee impacts on general aviation, pilots, students, charities, and businesses; restricts such fee revenues exclusively to airside safety projects; and authorizes the FAA Administrator to promulgate regulations or reporting requirements. (Thus, the provision adds new section 40133 to chapter 401 of title 49, United States Code.)