A group of pilots has started a petition on Change.org asking the FAA to prohibit the use of ADS-B data for billing airport fees.
Led by Don Frano, the petition campaign, directed at Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, notes that “as U.S. pilots, we were encouraged — and in many cases required — to invest in Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology to enhance aviation safety. Emphasizing that ADS-B was developed strictly for safety purposes, the FAA assured pilots that this data would not be used even to initiate enforcement actions.”
“However, we now find that third-party vendors, such as Vector Airport Systems, are using ADS-B data to track aircraft for billing purposes, including landing fees. This practice exceeds the intended scope of ADS-B and undermines trust in the system,” it continues.
According to Frano, who hosted a forum at the 2025 SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo to increase awareness about this issue, general aviation aircraft owners spent $500 million to equip their aircraft with ADS-B with promises from the FAA that it would only be used to increase safety.
“ADS-B was implemented to improve safety, not to serve as a financial tool,” according to the petition. “Using it for fee collection not only deviates from its intended purpose but also risks discouraging participation in safety-enhancing technologies. Pilots should not face unexpected financial burdens or privacy concerns from a system meant to improve airspace security.”
The petition asks the FAA to take “immediate action to prohibit the use of ADS-B data for billing purposes. This step is necessary to restore confidence in the system and ensure ADS-B remains dedicated solely to its original safety purpose.”
As of April 23, 2025, two months after the petition was put on the Change.org site, it had received 3,246 signatures.
Bait And Switch
Many of the pilots also left comments, including Tim, who noted: “when ADS-B was rolled out, pilots were told it was for safety and situational awareness — not a tool for billing. Using that same data now to charge landing fees feels like a bait and switch. It breaks the trust between the FAA and the aviation community and discourages pilots from equipping or complying. This kind of move goes completely against the spirit of general aviation and puts unnecessary pressure on an already struggling sector. It’s not what we signed up for.”
Other commenters, such as James, noted that “using ADS-B for billing discourages pilots from installing it, which undermines the real purpose of the system, which is to improve safety. ADS-B based billing should be illegal.”
John D. adds that “ADS-B was a tool to enhance safety, not FAA revenue. You will have pilots turning the systems off to avoid additional charges.”
You can see — and sign — the petition at Change.org/p/Calling-On-The-FAA-To-Halt-The-Use-Of-ADSB-Data-For-Billing.
Frano also has another website, StopADSBAbuse.com, which includes more information.
