When Congress returns from recess in September, senators will have to decide whether to advance an aircraft safety bill that could also provide a tax haven for private jet owners.
A last-minute amendment tacked onto the House-passed ALERT Act would prohibit using aircraft transponder data “to identify aircraft for the purpose of obtaining revenue from the owner or operator” without permission.
Airports could no longer use the Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data to collect landing fees, which supporters of the amendment say is a misuse of a safety tool originally created to prevent mid-air plane collisions.
“There is strong support for putting an end to this practice,” Jim Coon, senior vice president of government affairs and advocacy at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, said.