The April, 2010 flightbrief from FltPlan.com Flight Planning & Flight Tracking for General Aviation.

Short version- If you used the NBAA to block your tail number-- you still retain privacy.


A recent Federal District court ruled that a list of FAA blocked tail numbers must be made available to the public. Naturally, many FltPlan.com users wonder how this affects them.

First of all, only those aircraft with tail numbers blocked at the FAA level will appear on the list. If your tail number is blocked at the ASDI vendor level, you are not affected.

Secondly, even if your N number is on this list (which is only available by filing a Freedom of Information Request with the FAA), your aircraft is still blocked from live tracking. This list does not make your travel plans public knowledge; it only shows that your tail number is blocked from view on tracking websites.

Why block your tail number at all?
In the not-so-distant past it was possible to fly your aircraft in relative privacy. Flight tracking vendors didn't release information to the general public - only to those in some way connected to the flight. This has all changed. Now your flight information and history are easily available from any internet computer or smartphone. Anyone who knows your N number can track every move that your aircraft makes. This could include the press, your competitors, your neighbor, disgruntled employees, banks, governmental agencies, etc. If you feel your flight schedule and history should remain private, you might want to block your tail number.

Blocking your tail number is a free process
Don't be fooled by companies that want to charge you hefty fees to block your tail number. This is a free service provided by NBAA. NBAA manages the BARR program, or Blocked Aircraft Registration Request. The BARR program is available free of charge to both members and non-members.

How to block your Tail Number
Operators with privacy and industrial security concerns resulting from the availability of Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) data have two options for blocking aircraft flight tracking data:
Option #1 - Blocked by ASDI vendors
NBAA, through the BARR Program, centrally coordinates with all ASDI vendors to have your aircraft registration number blocked from their respective programs. Blocking the aircraft registration with the ASDI vendors removes the aircraft registration from view of all non-authorized persons. If your aircraft is blocked at this level, you will be able to track your own flights through an ASDI vendor.
Option #2 - Blocked at FAA source
For an additional level of security operators may choose to block their aircraft flight data at the FAA Source, which will remove all aircraft flight data before it is transmitted to the ASDI vendors. This means the information never reaches any ASDI vendor and therefore is not incorporated into their system. You will not be able to track your own airplane if blocked at this level. This list is available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act.