Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) Program
March 2, 2010 Update
On February 26, 2010, a US District Court judge has ruled that aircraft tail numbers submitted to the FAA under the BARR program for blockage from distribution to sources outside the FAA must be made available in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The ruling does not permit the disclosure of real-time flight data, historical data, or operator names. For more information, review the BARR FOIA Frequently Asked Questions and the NBAA Press Release.
Introduction to the BARR Program
In the last number of years, our society has made enormous progress in the ability to rapidly access data. As a result, the capability has become available for individuals to track the minute-by-minute progress of their, or other, aircraft in real-time, through Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) data now available to subscribers through several vendors. The ASDI information includes the location, altitude, airspeed, destination, estimated time of arrival and tail number or designated identifier of air carrier and general aviation aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within U.S. airspace.
Operators with privacy and industrial security concerns for their operations resulting from the availability of ASDI data can request this data be blocked from public dissemination through the NBAA Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) Program, which NBAA administers on behalf of the FAA. This is accomplished by operators submitting a BARR to NBAA.
There are two options that an operator can choose from in determining how they wish to block their aircraft:
- Option #1 – ASDI-level blocking. Using this level, an operator’s ADSI data is still broadcast from FAA to the ASDI providers. However, the providers are bound by letter of agreement to not publish information for aircraft that are on the BARR list. This option gives operators the ability to track their own aircraft through the ASDI provider of their choice.
- In order for an operator to track their own aircraft under this option, after the ASDI-level block is in place, the operator must contact the ASDI provider of their choice and request that the operator selectively unblock the aircraft for that operator only. Note that some ASDI providers may charge for this service.
- Option #2 – FAA-level blocking. Using this level, an operator’s ADSI data is not broadcast from the FAA to the ASDI vendors at all. Aircraft operators considering the FAA-level block should first check with their flight tracking vendor to discuss the impact that this option will have on their ability to monitor flights.
How to Block or Unblock an Aircraft
Aircraft operators wishing to block an aircraft tail number must:
- Complete a written request to NBAA to participate in the BARR Program. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use the BARR Submission Formatting Form, which automatically formats the required information into a letter that can be sent to NBAA Headquarters. The request must:
- be printed on company letterhead
- include the operator’s choice of either ASDI-level blocking (option #1) or FAA-level blocking (option #2)
- include the make, model and tail number for each aircraft to be blocked
- be signed by the NBAA Member Representative (or if not an NBAA Member, the signature of the aircraft owner or operator)
- Obtain a copy of the aircraft registration.
- Send the written request and aircraft registration either by fax to (202) 478-0035 or by mail to: NBAA / BARR Program Manager 1200 18th Street NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036
Aircraft operators wishing to unblock an aircraft that has already been blocked must also submit a written request to remove the aircraft from the blocked list. The procedure is the same as above, except that the Unblock Formatting Form should be used to automatically format the required information above into a letter to send to NBAA Headquarters.
Note that, while requests for adding or removing aircraft from the list will be taken at any time, the block/unblock will not go into effect immediately. Both the block database submitted to ASDI vendors (option #1), and the block database at the FAA source at the VOLPE Center (option #2), will be updated monthly.
- Requests made by the 14h of the month will be implemented by the 1st day of the following month.
Occasionally, operators discover that their aircraft show up on either live data feeds or historical products offered by various companies in spite of being on the ASDI Vendor Block List. If an owner is convinced this is being done intentionally and has taken reasonable steps to contact the ASDI vendor to rectify the situation, the owner should directly contact the FAA at asdi-program-office@faa.gov with as many details as possible. The FAA will investigate and if necessary take enforcement action against any ASDI Vendor the FAA finds is violating the Memorandum of Agreement vendors sign with the FAA.
History of Flight Tracking and ASDI
ASDI information has been available to scheduled airlines since 1991. NBAA, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, the Helicopter Association International and the National Air Transportation Association petitioned the FAA to make ASDI information available on a "need-to-know" basis in 1995.
Subsequently, NBAA became concerned with the broad-scale dissemination of ASDI data. In 1997, NBAA began working with the FAA and ASDI vendors to develop a system to help protect the privacy of general aviation operators engaging in IFR operations. Operators should note that, with the evolution of technology, non-FAA sources of this data are promulgating and make it impossible to guarantee 100% blockage of data.
In 2005, NBAA participated in a thorough review of the BARR Program with the FAA. NBAA Member flight departments expressed increasing concerns about the protection of their passengers’ privacy and security as well as the protection of company proprietary information. This increased concern resulted from a proliferation of ASDI vendors and vast improvements in technology since the late 1990’s, mentioned previously, that made it much easier for the casual citizen to obtain flight information about aircraft that were on the BARR list via legal workarounds. A primary result of this review was the addition of new option for blocking ASDI information at the FAA data source, eliminating any chance of the data being accidentally or intentionally released by ASDI vendors. This FAA block restricts the use of flight tracking applications to monitor flights.
However, potential requestors should be aware that in 2010 a Court ruled that the FAA could release the list of aircraft registration (tail) numbers via FOIA requests. View the BARR FOIA Frequently Asked Questions and the associated NBAA Press Release.
Vendor Code of Conduct (to be completed only by vendors)
NBAA developed a Vendor Code of Conduct in response to operator concerns about industrial espionage and personal security and safety of crew and passengers. The Vendor Code of Conduct addresses specific actions ASDI vendors are expected to comply with that meet the intent of paragraph 9 of the FAA Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) vendors must sign in order to receive the FAA ASDI feed. All vendors, including third parties that direct vendors further distribute the ASDI feed to, must print, sign and date the March 2006 Vendor Code of Conduct. The Vendor Code of Conduct should be mailed or faxed to the BARR submission address mentioned in the BARR section above.
For more information about NBAA's BARR Program, please e-mail barr@nbaa.org.
