Congress has been active in the Block Aviation Registration Request (BARR) program. The FAA recently cancelled the BARR program, permitting anyone to obtain current details of all flight plans and follow flights from takeoff to landing. Officials with AOPA and NBAA say this violates privacy, can be dangerous, and allows business competitors knowledge of a company’s activities.
Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) recently introduced a bill to force the FAA to reverse its decision and permit only the FAA, law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security access to the information. Co-signers on the bill include members representing South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois.
The House-passed FAA reauthorization bill also includes a provision that would reverse the FAA’s elimination of BARR.