Regulatory Alert: AAAE Responds to FAA's Request for Feedback on Removal of Aircraft Registration Data from Public Dissemination
June 5, 2025
Yesterday, AAAE submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the agency’s request for feedback on implementation of a provision in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that allows private aircraft owners to remove certain personally identifiable information (PII) from the aircraft registration database, which airport operators regularly use for a wide range of functions.In our comments, AAAE communicated the potential impacts of airport operators losing access to aircraft registration data. We emphasized the critical role that airports play as public-sector partners in maintaining aviation safety, security, and operational efficiency in collaboration with federal agencies, including the FAA, Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection. Access to accurate and timely aircraft registration data is essential to support key functions such as emergency response, enforcement of noise mitigation programs, and facility oversight. As a solution, AAAE urged the agency to establish a secure database for airport operators and their staff to continue to access this information. This approach would ensure continuity in safety, compliance, and operator accountability.
You can read AAAE’s full comments here.
Background. Under section 803 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Congress directed FAA to take several actions to provide certain privacy protections for private aircraft owners and operators. This includes, among other things, limiting public access to PII such as names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. However, FAA retained the authority to share this information with any “government agency” pursuant to a contract or agreement. In April, FAA began allowing aircraft owners to request the removal of their PII from FAA’s public databases, including the aircraft registration database. At the same time, the agency requested input from stakeholders on the implementation of section 803.
AAAE’s Key Concerns and Recommendations. With input from our members, AAAE urged FAA to establish a secure database for airport operators to continue accessing PII of aircraft owners and operators. We highlighted a range of ways that airport operators use aircraft registration data and the importance of continued access to the information for purposes of:
- Incident Response and Safety Coordination: Allowing quick identification of aircraft owners for safety and emergency response purposes and assisting in investigations and enforcement, especially involving transient aircraft;
- Lease and Tenant Oversight: Verifying aircraft ownership for hangar and tie-down leases, which encourages responsible facility use;
- Regulatory Compliance: Verifying and tracking owners of “based aircraft” to ensure airport sponsors comply with the National Based Aircraft Inventory Program, which informs the role of nonprimary airports in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and impacts Airport Improvement Program funding;
- Noise Management and Community Engagement: Identifying violators of noise abatement policies and facilitating pilot outreach and education, which help reduce noise-related complaints; and
- Billing and Revenue Collection: Invoicing and billing airport users for services rendered, avoiding disproportionate fee increases for based tenants, and ensuring airport sponsors meet FAA grant obligations related to financial self-sufficiency.
