Rep. Onder’s Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA) Passes the House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2026
Contact: Brooke Morgan

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Congressman Bob Onder (R-MO) released the following statement after the House passed his bill, H.R. 4146, the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act (PAPA), as part of H.R. 7613, the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. 

“This is an important step forward for pilots, passengers, and the safety of our national airspace. ADS-B technology is a vital tool that enables pilots and air traffic controllers to maintain real-time awareness of an aircraft’s location, speed, altitude, and direction. It has transformed aviation safety and made flying safer for everyone involved. However, in recent years, that same data has been exploited by third parties to track aircraft, impose excessive landing fees, and even pursue frivolous legal actions against pilots. This kind of abuse creates a dangerous incentive for pilots to purposefully avoid using a system that was designed to save lives,” said Congressman Bob Onder.

“As a pilot myself, I have seen firsthand how essential this technology is. Pilots should be focused on flying safely, not worrying about how their data could be used against them. This legislation ensures ADS-B data is used for its intended purpose: safety, not profit.”

Upon passage, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) praised Congressman Onder’s leadership, stating, “I commend Congressman Onder for his contributions to the ALERT Act, and for working to ensure that critical aviation safety data is used solely for the purpose of improving the safety of our skies.”

Background Information

• Prohibits both government agencies and private actors from using ADS-B data to identify aircraft for the purpose of imposing fees or charges.
• It makes clear that this data should only be used for air traffic safety, efficiency, or other purposes approved through a transparent public process.
• Ensures that investigations cannot be initiated based solely on ADS-B data 

This is about restoring trust in a system that keeps our skies safe and ensures pilots are not penalized for using life-saving technology.

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