TheaterFire

FAA Administrator on ADS-B Billing: ‘That’s Not the Intended Use’

Posted by anon__a__mouse__@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 93 comments

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93 Comments

Guysmiley777@reddit

What's got people upset is during the initial implementation and later mandate the FAA promised ADS-B would not be used for commercial purposes and is now being used for commercial purposes.
View on Reddit #84363004

soittfire88@reddit

Ive enjoyed getting a bill every few months from a landing i did 2 years ago and ignoring it knowing they have 0 enforcement ability. Eat shit vector
View on Reddit #84364018

Mundane-Reality-7770@reddit

If you landed there and that airport had landing fees, you owe the airport money. I hate fees. And vector doesn't ONLY use adsb. Vector is just the shitty vehicle airports use to recover their already implemented fees. If the use of adsb for fee collection is banned they'll rely on video cameras alone. You'll still get a bill. And I'll still think it's bullshit. And it will still be a legitimate bill. If at all possible I refuse to land anywhere with fees.
View on Reddit #84493121

heartland_aviator@reddit

Send it to AOPA. They’d love to know about that.
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DatBeigeBoy@reddit

I remember when I was the chief pilot at my flight School, I would get letters from the NIMBYs complaining about aircraft noise because of the IFRs departures. That shit went into the trash immediately every time.
View on Reddit #84405897

DCS_Sport@reddit

Same. Anyone got an address for them so I can send pictures of my butthole?
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Ancient-Dust3077@reddit

You actually got a bill?
View on Reddit #84367087

soittfire88@reddit

Yup
View on Reddit #84367674

Ancient-Dust3077@reddit

I’ve never got a bill
View on Reddit #84374101

EnderDragoon@reddit

Send them a bill for "harassment administrative processing fees"
View on Reddit #84364533

LeptonWrangler@reddit

Its definitely not just now. Theres a lot of buisnesses making money by tracking aircraft or pilots
View on Reddit #84363393

YourSpanishMomTaco@reddit

Got a call from a company telling me to buy their carbon credit bullshit to offset my pollution for flying my arrow.
View on Reddit #84365678

Ok-Money2811@reddit

Tell them you run it full rich every time you fly just for them
View on Reddit #84365881

Mrs_Fagina@reddit

Spark Plugs sitting there like "please no..."
View on Reddit #84383670

Tomato_Head120@reddit

That why when they foul i throw them into the ocean
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rdunlap@reddit

Can you throw them in the same place as the batteries, or does this zap the fish?
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Tomato_Head120@reddit

Charges the electric eels i reckon
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320sim@reddit

That's a real thing. I have a friend that buys credits for his 421. I don't think he does it through an organization like that, but there's a market
View on Reddit #84378294

Styk33@reddit

Genuinely curious, what is the benefit?
View on Reddit #84379117

320sim@reddit

If done through a nonprofit it's probably tax deductible. And it makes people feel less guilty about burning through 50 gph
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Styk33@reddit

Interesting.
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Drunkenaviator@reddit

Virtue signaling
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AbeFromanEast@reddit

Unfortunately your well-meaning friend is being scammed.
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Mrs_Fagina@reddit

Don’t need the link. I think the statement is straightforward enough 
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AbeFromanEast@reddit

Carbon offset schemes are all scams dreamed up by Wall Street to separate people from their money. And I believe climate change/warming is real and undeniable
View on Reddit #84387113

Inevitable_Street458@reddit

This must be what happened to all the "star naming" companies. Now they try to sell carbon credits.
View on Reddit #84402289

Rictor_Scale@reddit

One of the biggest scams is large, private nature preserves (that are permanently prohibited from development anyway) will sell 'pledges' to never develop. Companies buy these to say they are offsetting, but not so much as a blade of grass is planted.
View on Reddit #84380932

NighthawkCP@reddit

That's completely different though. What they are talking about is mandating pilots purchase and install an ADSB transmitter for safety purposes in their aircraft and then turning around and using that technology to charge them fees, which disincentivizes them to use the transmitter for safety purposes when using it can now come with landing fees. People charging for flight tracking on sites like FlightAware, FlightRadar24, ADSBX, etc has no impact on the pilot who was mandated to add equipment into their aircraft.
View on Reddit #84364023

LeptonWrangler@reddit

Tracking sites like flightaware definitely have some impact on the pilot. The pilots privacy has been seriously reduced, and the flights are logged in perpetuity. This is just a new mechanism that continues to shift that balance
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TheOriginalJBones@reddit

You see guys at the big fly-ins taking N-number pictures of everybody’s airplanes. Step 3 is profit, I guess.
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saml01@reddit

It's not the FAA. Vector simply never asked for permission. 
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mduell@reddit

It’s a radio broadcast. Anyone with a $10 TV tuner can pick it up. No permission needed.
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saml01@reddit

There's a lot of things broadcast in the clear and accessing it is illegal. 
View on Reddit #84408426

russellvt@reddit

Sadly overlooked. Also likely sad, implementation means the endpoints aren't "secure" - or necessarily completely trustworthy, either.
View on Reddit #84366729

mduell@reddit

Can you share where the FAA promised ADS-B would not be used for commercial purposes?
View on Reddit #84365196

AdventurerGuy@reddit

I broadcast as anonymous & instructed the FAA to not publish my name/address including my airplane registration info. FU for those who use adsb for commercial billing.
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anon__a__mouse__@reddit (OP)

Looks like Vector's time may be limited. Such a slimy business model to use a system that was invented for safety, to bill people. I'm all for airports collecting fees as required to keep them open, but its clear no one in the community is supportive of using ADSB for it.
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mduell@reddit

Vector can go back to using cameras like they have for years before ADS-B was widespread.
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Due-Letterhead6372@reddit

Because using ADS-B data to charge fees encourages people who don't want to pay fees to turn off their ADS-B before landing, right when it is most useful.
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mduell@reddit

I mean that's as silly as saying camera-assessed landing fees encourages people to hide or obscure their tail number to avoid landing fees.
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Due-Letterhead6372@reddit

Hiding or obscuring a tail number doesn't affect safety of flight the way turning off ADS-B does.
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Trick_Sink9755@reddit

I don’t quite understand the outrage tbh. I think pilots who try to avoid paying landing fees are slimy. Most mom & pop fields can’t justify installing and maintaining camera systems. ADSB allows them an easy way to get what they have rightfully earned. I get that it wasn’t its intended remit but I still don’t see why people are this level of outraged by it.
View on Reddit #84435908

Due-Letterhead6372@reddit

Its not the charging of landing fees that is the issue, its the use of ADS-B data that is the issue. When you take a safety system and use it to charge fees, people will intentionally disable their ADS-B just to save a few bucks on a landing fee, which degrades the effectiveness of the system.
View on Reddit #84458506

Trick_Sink9755@reddit

If people are willing to simultaneously breach their contract with the airfield and break federal regs to save a few bucks they need to find another hobby. That’s outright shitty airmanship.
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Due-Letterhead6372@reddit

Call it whatever you want, doesn't change the fact that people will do it. There is already tons of airspace where you don't even legally need ADS-B out, so its not like the airport doesn't have other ways to bill landing fees. All they have to do is set up a camera.
View on Reddit #84460250

LikeLemun@reddit

Florida just passed a bill banning vector from doing this to aircraft 12,500lbs or less. At least its a start
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Mimshot@reddit

Why can’t the FBO just set up a game camera pointed at the TDZ to capture tail numbers?
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runway31@reddit

what happens if you just dont pay these fees?
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Drunkenaviator@reddit

Nothing. Vector can go fuck themselves.
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runway31@reddit

I like this mindset, im going tontake it 
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mduell@reddit

That’s how Vector did it before widespread ADS-B, using cameras by the touchdown zone.
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mattrixx@reddit

Jokes on them, I touchdown 300ft from the threshold
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Styk33@reddit

I use the taxiway, that way it is not a landing, but a vertical taxi!
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mattrixx@reddit

Just land on the taxiway closest to the hangar. Pylotes are busy people, we dont have time to taxi across the airport!
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gimp2x@reddit

FBO charges for their ramp space they lease, the airport authority collects the landing and use fees Usually this is the case, not always, but usually 
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SimilarTranslator264@reddit

I don’t mind landing fees if they offer a service. Gas my plane, tie it down, offer a car etc.
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anon__a__mouse__@reddit (OP)

I believe they actually use cameras in some locations, however you can imagine the cost is like 1000x compared to just monitoring ADSB
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tempskawt@reddit

Yeah they do. Saw a demonstration from them at an airport manager conference. They’re popular for requesting funds from the FAA based on traffic, nobody was really talking about using them to bill pilots.
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fly_awayyy@reddit

You want them to spend their own money lol?
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Beautiful_Exchange_3@reddit

You’re all for public airports collecting fees? Really? I have a real problem with that considering they are federally funded. Private airports can do what they want but no public airport should be allowed to charge us fees or landing fees
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bobnuthead@reddit

Public airports, even those that receive federal grant money, still need revenue and make efforts to be self sustaining. Federal money is mostly given for capital improvements, not operating cost. Plus, the airport still has to cover 10% of capital costs when the FAA gives the other 90%. Lots of airports get by with fuel flowage and lease revenues to cover those operating costs, but keeping the lights on isn’t free. Many small airports take money from the county/municipality’s funds, but the FAA’s grant assurances discourage this as a permanent solution.
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Turbo_Normalized@reddit

Federal funding doesn't cover anywhere close to all expenses for public airports. Most GA airports are in a perpetual state of constantly fighting for funds to stay alive.
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__joel_t@reddit

There's a difference between a publicly owned airport and a privately owned, public-use airport. While the FAA offers some airport funding, it is typically used for infrastructure projects, not operating expenses. My home airport is owned by the neighboring city, which is among the poorest in my state. Do I love flying? Yes. Do I love free stuff? Also yes. Do I think one of the poorest cities in my state should subsidize my recreational flying? No. So if that meant they had to charge me a reasonable landing fee, I wouldn't have too much of a problem with it.
View on Reddit #84369250

CharAznableLoNZ@reddit

They need to start pulling funding from airports charging for landings on GA. There are a couple in my area and people outside the Mode-C are shutting off their ADS-B Out. Better yet we have a lot of schools in the area so near misses have skyrocketed lately.
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ammo359@reddit

Is there anything actually illegal about turning off ADS-B when approaching a Vector airport? Assuming it’s outside of relevant airspace, etc. It would be dumb and increase risk, but ignoring that - can they get you for anything other than the careless/reckless catch all?
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Fit_Homework532@reddit

It is illegal to turn off ADSB in a plane that is equipped with it per 91.225(f). Now, if you have a circuit breaker that keeps tripping under certain conditions, how will the A&P diagnose the problem?
View on Reddit #84369527

Lord_Giles@reddit

I legitimately have trouble with my uavionix adsb out. It seems to work 95% of the time, but reception range seems to be between 1nm and 10nm for aircraft or ground stations.   The faa public performance tests show that it works fine until signal is out of range. Changing coax cables, antenni, and increasing the supply voltage from 12 to 24 have done nothing.  I sent 2 e-mails to uavinix a few months apart 3 years ago and i'm beginning to think they may not respond in a timely manner.  I haven't gotten any vector bills yet however. 
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Turbo_Normalized@reddit

The FAA doesn't need to prove anything to anyone in order to take administrative action against you. They're not a criminal court. If they think it's more likely than not that you did it intentionally, they can take action.
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SimilarTranslator264@reddit

Ask Martha Lunken. lol
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__joel_t@reddit

Yes. [14 CFR 91.225(f)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-91/section-91.225#p-91.225(f)): > Except as prohibited in paragraph (h)(2) of this section, each person operating an aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out must operate this equipment in the transmit mode at all times There's a couple exceptions for when authorized by the FAA or ATC.
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sir_crapalot@reddit

Just don’t pay Vector.
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Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit

Extremely rare Bryan Bedford W
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ValeoRex@reddit

The FAA could just pull back federal funding and grants to any airport using ADS-B data to bill pilots. This would put a stop to the practice pretty darn quick!
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14Three8@reddit

Friendly reminder that Vector has no authority to bill you. When they send you an invoice, use it as toilet paper. They can’t put a lien on your plane, they can’t disable your adsb, they can’t suspend your registration, and Kissimmee airport won’t ban you from the premises. They never asked permission, they just started billing. Their own system sucks, too. Remember that time united (and others) got invoices for thousands of dollars every time they departed 18R at MCO and made a right turn out? Yeah. Vector forgot to make sure you actually landed at Kissimmee, not just flew over.
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yawara25@reddit

Can they send the invoice to a collections agency, or that's not something they do either?
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14Three8@reddit

Even if they do, a collections agency typically doesn’t have any more authority or legal rights than vector themselves. They’re just better at being annoying.
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yawara25@reddit

They can report to the credit agencies, can't they?
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Joker328@reddit

Unlikely. How would they prove that you were the pilot? Usually unpaid speed camera tickets cannot be reported to credit agencies for the same reason.
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14Three8@reddit

I don’t wanna talk out of my ass. I’ll try to find out though anyone who does know, please chime in
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x4457@reddit

I’m aware of one Vector bill that has now been open and unpaid for 4.5 years. They aren’t going to do shit about it.
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yawara25@reddit

Ha. Well then, sounds like there's no reason not to ignore it.
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mduell@reddit

> Kissimmee airport won’t ban you from the premises. > > They never asked permission, they just started billing. They were presumably directed/contracted by Kissimmee to start billing right? If you do pay, send a check for a few cents under or over the correct amount; will probably cost them more to handle than the landing fee is.
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kruecab@reddit

To me it’s part about the technology but mostly about landing fees just being a bad idea. Having a pilot make a landing decision based on anything other than safety of flight is risky. We need the FAA to ban all landing fees. Ramp fees, handling, etc - fine, but landing itself should never cost money.
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MacAttack0711@reddit

That’s a good place to start. It inherently pushes people to switch off their ADSB or just avoid select airports/areas. Vector is a garbage company that’s just preying on blind compliance, which is a whole other matter. In any case I think long term more airports will become pay to play, but I hope they find a more legitimate way of doing that. The national airspace system is paid for with fuel tax and needn’t be paid for with double jeopardy.
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Fit_Homework532@reddit

Then they should have done something to prevent it's misuse. They set it up perfectly for ADSB billing.
View on Reddit #84369108

junebug172@reddit

Vector uses a camera system in SBA for their billing on behalf of the airport.
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Accomplished_Two_502@reddit

This reminds me, I need to do a one-star review for vector, hahaha
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TheSultansPlayCreole@reddit

Rare Bedford W.
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JackPAnderson@reddit

C'mon, FAA. Are we going to wait for a midair where one of the involved aircraft was equipped with a transponder that mysteriously stopped working in the vicinity of a Vector airport? Now is the time to put a stop to this ADS-B misuse.
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muchoqueso26@reddit

Just don’t pay the bills.
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rcbif@reddit

You can bill me......I'M BILLING YOU! One vintage Cessna 140 surprise showing - $800.00
View on Reddit #84364701

jeremiahfelt@reddit

That's some The Art of The Deal level strategy right there.
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Frederf220@reddit

It's capitalism. Separating you from your money and reducing your freedom are always the intended use. The engineers of the tools of dystopia are just behind the curve.
View on Reddit #84364079