Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) Program

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BARR Program

The Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, enabled by Congress in 2000, "blocks" aircraft movements from public dissemination upon request. The BARR program was established to address security-related, commercial, and privacy imperatives, and is essential to protect general aviation aircraft and flight information from real-time public availability. BARR submissions were managed by NBAA and provided to the FAA and Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) venders to block tracking at the appropriate levels.

In August 2011, the FAA elected to restrict participation in the BARR program only to aircraft operators that could demonstrate a “valid security concern”, NBAA immediately began advocacy efforts to remove limitations on the program.

Language restoring full BARR availability was included in the Department of Transportation’s 2012 budget which became law on November 17, 2011. This effectively prohibited FAA from continuing to implement the "valid security concern" standard for operators wishing to participate in the BARR program.

On December 16, the FAA issued a Federal Register notice to provide an update on the transitional status of the BARR program. The notice explains that aircraft owners and operators may request blocking of their flight tracking information without having to submit a certified security concern. This means that all aircraft owners and operators again have the ability to “opt out” from having their flight information broadcast over the Internet.

BARR Program Resources

For More Information

Since the FAA is managing the program, NBAA does not have information about the status of individual block requests. However, if you have general questions or concerns about the FAA process, please contact NBAA's Operations Service Group at info@nbaa.org or (202) 783-9250.