A Republican bill with 9 Republican cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act of 2025 aims to limit the use of data from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems. It prevents people, agencies, or entities from using this data to identify aircraft to collect money from owners or operators without their consent. The bill allows air traffic controllers to use this data to track aircraft and improve safety and efficiency. It also expands restrictions on how various government officials can use this data. Additionally, the bill requires public-use airport owners to meet specific transparency requirements before imposing landing or takeoff fees on general aviation aircraft. Finally, it mandates that revenues from these fees can only be used for airside safety projects.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill protects the privacy of aircraft operators by limiting the use of ADS-B data for revenue purposes.
- Scored +7
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill enhances privacy by restricting how ADS-B flight data can be used to identify and charge aircraft owners.
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates transparency requirements for airport owners before they can impose fees on general aviation.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
The bill restricts the use of surveillance data, which may limit certain government oversight capabilities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Privacy and Revenue: Data from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast may not be used by any person, government agency, or entity to identify aircraft for the purpose of getting money from the owner or operator without consent (Section 2(a)).
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Improved Air Traffic Safety: Data may be used by air traffic controllers to assist in tracking aircraft and improving the safety and efficiency of air traffic (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Transparency for General Aviation: Before imposing fees, airport owners must make available information regarding efforts to reduce expenses, efforts to find other revenue, total cost estimates for safety projects, and assessments of how fees impact the local general aviation community (Section s 4(a)(1-4)).
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Targeted Use of Fees: Any money collected from fees imposed on general aviation aircraft can only be used for airside safety projects (Section 4(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Data Usage: The Secretary of Transportation may limit the use of data to only those purposes determined to be consistent with this section, unless a new determination is made after public comment (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Limitations on Government Officials: The bill expands restrictions so that neither the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration nor any other Federal, State, local, territorial, or Tribal official may use the data in ways prohibited by the act (Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill protects the privacy of aircraft operators by limiting the use of ADS-B data for revenue purposes. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates transparency requirements for airport owners before they can impose fees on general aviation.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill enhances privacy by restricting how ADS-B flight data can be used to identify and charge aircraft owners.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill mandates that fees can be used for flight training infrastructure, benefiting student pilots.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill provides protection against unauthorized revenue collection from aircraft owners through data usage.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill restricts the use of surveillance data, which may limit certain government oversight capabilities.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/31/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/26/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
- 6/25/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House
Nicholas BegichRepublican · Alaska
Mike CollinsRepublican · Georgia
Scott FranklinRepublican · Florida
Kevin HernRepublican · Oklahoma
Pat HarriganRepublican · North Carolina
Dusty JohnsonRepublican · South Dakota
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama
Bruce WestermanRepublican · Arkansas
Rudy YakymRepublican · Indiana