The Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) program was developed by FAA in part to address privacy and security concerns with the availability of ADS-B Out data. Aircraft owners and designated representatives may submit requests to the FAA to limit aircraft data shared through FAA data systems. LADD replaces the Block Aircraft Registry Request (BARR) program.
The LADD program builds upon earlier privacy protection efforts by specifically addressing the data shared by the FAA to third parties, regardless of the source from which it was derived.
LADD requires aircraft tracking vendors to do the following:
- demonstrate their ability to block display of aircraft data from their public display systems
- block from public display aircraft registration numbers, call signs or flight numbers included on the FAA-provided LADD list
- not display historical data for any aircraft registration or call sign while the aircraft is included in the LADD list
LADD also provides greater enforcement capabilities to the FAA against third parties that may violate those protections, including possible suspension or termination from receiving FAA flight tracking data for any parties that may inadvertently or knowingly share such information.
To address the privacy concerns with access to this data, the FAA has created the Privacy ICAO Address (PIA) program, which allows operators to use alternate, temporary ICAO aircraft addresses that aren’t tied to an operator in the Civil Aviation Registry (CAR). For the maximum level of privacy, operators should participate in both the LADD and PIA programs.
How to Submit a LADD Request
Operators that do not wish to have their aircraft data shared by the FAA can submit LADD requests via:
- Online form on the FAA’s dedicated LADD website at ladd.faa.gov
- Email to ladd@faa.gov
- Physical mail to the FAA
LADD requests should include the following information:
- Registered aircraft owners
- Aircraft registration number or call sign of the aircraft data to be limited or unblocked
- ICAO code
- Aircraft make and model
- Email address to which the FAA can direct questions about the request
- Telephone number to which the FAA can direct questions about the request
- Desired level of limiting data (FAA Source, Subscriber or Unblocking)
- Certification that the requestor is the owner or operator of the specified aircraft, or is a legally authorized representative of the aircraft owner or operator
When submitting LADD requests, operators can select one of three options:
- FAA Source Blocking
The aircraft’s flight tracking data will not be broadcast from the FAA to any aircraft tracking vendors. Operators will not be able to track their own flights via any vendor once FAA Source Blocking is in place. - Subscriber Level Blocking
Aircraft tracking vendors will still receive the aircraft’s flight tracking data from the FAA, however, vendors will not be authorized to publicly display the flight information. With Subscriber Level Blocking, you can subscribe to an aircraft tracking vendor to track your own aircraft. The FAA is currently evaluating an option allowing operators to select specific third-party vendors with whom their flight data may be shared, but this is capability is not yet available. - No Blocking/Unblocking
Operators can chose this option to remove blocks from previously blocked aircraft. The aircraft’s flight tracking data will be broadcast from the FAA to all vendors and the vendors may publicly display the information.
The FAA implements changes in display status on the first Thursday of each month. LADD requests received by the 15th of each month are likely to be processed in time to take effect the following month.
For additional information, review NBAA’s ADS-B Privacy FAQs or visit the FAA’s dedicated LADD website.