Business and general aviation aircraft will be the most effected by this move. Photo: Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. - OPShots.net
In the face of strong industry opposition and proposed congressional language, the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) is moving ahead with a proposal to provide public access to most business aircraft tail numbers via flight-tracking services. The change, to go into effect in about 60 days, essentially dismantles the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, which permits aircraft owners to request that their tail number be withheld from flight-tracking programs. Under the government’s plan, only operators with a verifiable security threat would be able to withhold tail numbers.
“Operators of general aviation aircraft no longer will be able to cite privacy as a reason to prevent the public from viewing their flight information on Internet sites,” FAA says in a release.
