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FAA Implements Rule to Enhance Privacy for Private Jet Owners
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently implemented a new regulation, enacted into law the previous year, allowing private jet owners to conceal their personal information from public records. This measure, according to the FAA, ensures that owner details will no longer be publicly accessible on its websites. The rule comes in response to growing concerns over air travel data of prominent figures, often shared on social media platforms.
New Electronic System for Privacy Requests
An online application form is now available for aircraft owners seeking to take advantage of this privacy protection. This procedural change is partly attributed to the increasing prevalence of social media accounts dedicated to tracking and disseminating flight information pertaining to high-profile individuals, such as celebrities like Elon Musk and Taylor Swift.
Tracking Sites May Still Access Data
Despite the FAA’s efforts, The Verge reports that this rule may not entirely deter flight tracking websites. Operators of these services indicate they utilize diverse information sources beyond solely FAA records to compile their tracking reports. Thus, the effectiveness of the new regulation in completely blocking public access to private jet movements remains uncertain.
Limited Impact on Flight Tracking Expected
Industry Expert Weighs In
David Gitman, Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Air Group, a private jet charter firm located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, suggests the FAA’s privacy initiative will likely have minimal impact on preventing flight trackers from publishing the travel activities of notable individuals.
“There is no substantial alteration,” Gitman stated. “The FAA directive permits aircraft owners to obscure ownership details, but it does not impede the actual tracking of the aircraft. Notably, many aircraft are registered not to individuals, but to corporate entities or trusts.”
Challenges in Obscuring Travel
Gitman further explained that the public nature of celebrity appearances at airports and on social media platforms contributes to ease of tracking. “Once a specific aircraft becomes linked to a particular individual, monitoring becomes straightforward, as the fundamental tracking mechanisms remain unchanged,” he clarified.
Charter Services Offer Partial Solution
While acknowledging the limitations of the FAA rule, Gitman pointed out that private charter services like his can introduce complexity for trackers. Utilizing varied aircraft for different clients at different times makes consistent tracking more challenging. However, he emphasized that the broader practice of aircraft tracking is unlikely to disappear.
Aircraft Tracking as a “Modern Reality”
“In my estimation, aircraft tracking is an established reality in the contemporary world, akin to paparazzi presence outside dining establishments frequented by celebrities,” Gitman concluded. “The movement of any aircraft, whether carrying Taylor Swift or strategic military planes, is essentially accessible online.”