A growing number of airports across the country are using the same technology that tracks aircraft in real time to collect landing fees.
Arizona lawmakers are considering House Bill 2210, which would prohibit airports from using an aviation safety device to collect landing fees.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the technology is meant as a safety and situational awareness tool, and was never intended to be used for revenue collection, despite several airports across the country doing so, including at least one in Arizona.
In a hearing on Capitol Hill with the agency’s director, at least one senator raised concerns pilots would simply turn off the aircraft’s data transmitter in protest.
Republican Rep. Matt Gress is sponsoring the bill in the Arizona House.
"We should not be putting public policy in place that in any way induces someone to turn off the ADS-B equipment. I think that is asking for trouble," Gress said.
Chris Nugent is president of the Arizona Pilots Association and says the devices have been required for aircraft operating in controlled airspace since 2020.
"It was not implemented as a source for data for third parties to do either tracking, enforcement, or fee collection," Nugent said.
Nugent says there are other technologies airports can use to administer landing fees, but they shouldn’t use a device intended for safety.
Multiple airports in Arizona are considering using the equipment for landing fees, including Falcon Field in Mesa. The city is facing a federal lawsuit over newly imposed fees there.
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