PAPA Act of 2025

This legislation establishes significant limitations on the use of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, aiming to protect aircraft owner and operator privacy. It explicitly prohibits any person or entity from using this data to identify aircraft for the purpose of generating revenue without the owner's or operator's explicit consent. While air traffic controllers may utilize ADS-B data to enhance air traffic safety and efficiency, any other governmental use, including by federal, state, local, or tribal officials, requires prior approval from the Secretary of Transportation after public notice and comment. The bill also introduces new requirements for public-use airports regarding the imposition of fees on general aviation aircraft. Before implementing any landing or takeoff fees, airports must publicly disclose their efforts to reduce non-airside expenses, secure alternative revenue sources, and detail the estimated costs of airside safety projects. They must also assess the potential impact of such fees on the general aviation community, with any collected revenues restricted solely to funding airside safety projects.