Florida has banned the use of ADS-B data by airports to bill for landing fees for aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill April 23 and it takes effect July 1. The bill is quite specific in laying out its intent. “An airport may not use information broadcast or collected by automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems … as a means for calculating, generating, and collecting fees from aircraft owners or operators who operate aircraft within the geographic boundaries of this state.” Montana enacted similar legislation last year (without the weight limit) and a bill before Congress, the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act, would create a federal law against using ADS-B data for profit.
Most aviation groups have expressed support for legislation of this kind, with AOPA leading the advocacy effort on the bill before congress. The concerns are twofold. Allowing ADS-B billing would violate pledges given by federal officials during the implementation of the ADS-B mandate that the data would only be used for aviation safety purposes and that some pilots might turn off ADS-B to avoid the fees.
Thank you Gov. Ron DeSantis & the Florida legislature for getting this done.
Vector does not give up easily. They are offering free runway cameras to airports to capture N Numbers for billing.
I’d like to know how I can get back the $253 I’ve paid them over the years.
Some good news, I despise DeSantis and his party but credit giver where due.
I guess the fact Florida has no deficit, $15 Billion surplus, $5 billion rainy day fund, relatively low crime and social problems is a bad thing…yup, DeSantis and the republicans have sure screwed up this state…
Ummmm… There’s no fresh water, and they are sinking…..
Plus, Florida men and snakes….
The idea that PICs would disable ADS-B to avoid a relatively-chump change landing fee at an airport where they made a discretionary landing is disgusting. That argument holds no water with me, and I hope pilots who knowingly and deliberately violate regulations lose their privilege to fly. ADS-B-In TIS-B traffic awareness saves my bacon–or at least lowers my SA-excitable blood pressure–on every flight in congested FL airspace with our elder and student pilot self-announcement stumbles.
Also, obviously, I don’t like to pay more than I must to fly my aircraft for pleasure. I also understand that most airports live on the financial razor blade and if they go under, I’ve lost far more than a measly landing fee. Get involved, show up to meetings, lobby for smarter financial management, look at the public financials and if you have a better idea how to break even then run for commissioner!
the credit needs to go to Don Franko at KISM for his all his efforts to get this bill introduced and passed