turn off flightaware tracking

[Tommooney]

Hi all:

I'm probably way behind technology as usual but I got an email from i forgot who and found I can turn off flight aware tracking. I wish I had known this years ago. It was annoying that my staff always knew where I was and when I was flying in for an office visit. Can anyone with higher tech skills elaborate on how this works and if this is one time fix or are there are more tracking apps?

N1029M - HARRIS CHARLES T TRUSTEE (THOUSAND OAKS CA)

This aircraft (N1029M) is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator.

That's my airplane! How do I track my airplane on FlightAware?

FlightAware can provide aircraft owner/operators with secure access to their own flight data. Contact FlightAware for help.

 

Thanks for any help.

Tom

[Healthpilot]

You may need to subscribe to FlightAware Global.

"In some countries, like the United States, owners/operators must complete an application requesting their aircraft to be blocked from public tracking on sites like FlightAware (opt-out).

Elsewhere, including in Europe, non-commercial aircraft are automatically blocked. Owners/operators must complete an application requesting that their aircraft be unblocked (opt-in tracking). In Europe, opting-in enables non-commercial operators to track their own aircraft but flight data is never publicly disseminated.

Owners/operators located in countries that require opt-out blocking (i.e. the United States) are unable to track their own aircraft once the opt-out process is complete. Owners/operators located in countries that require them to opt-in to tracking (i.e. countries in Europe) lose privacy since their aircraft becomes visible on public sites like FlightAware.

Selective unblocking, offered through FlightAware Global, solves both opt-in and opt-out challenges by enabling owners and aircraft operators to track their aircraft while hiding it from public view."

https://flightaware.com/commercial/global/
 

[GeeBee]

https://ladd.faa.gov

 

 

[Tommooney]

Yes, thanks for reminding me:

https://ladd.faa.gov

that's the link I used and hit " file a request " and I was blocked within a week.

I hope this helps fellow pilots if they want.

Tom

[ArtVandelay]

Some sites will still allow you to be tracked,
like http://adsbexhange.com

[N201MKTurbo]

Like Tom says, it is impossible to totally block your flights. There are thousands of private ADS-B receivers around the country that openly broadcast what they receive. There are databases out there that have all the ADS-B codes matched to tail numbers. There are geeks that sit at runways looking for blocked numbers and visually get the tail numbers and add it to the database. Others will listen to LiveATC to try to identify blocked numbers. I once tried to track AF1, it took about a half hour to find a site that showed it. There is no way around this until they encrypt the ADS-B data stream, but even if they do that, which would require us all to do at least a software change, I bet it is hacked in less than a week.

[Scottknoll]

https://foreflight.com/support/call-signs/

https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/equipadsb/privacy/

I did this program if anyone is interested. Didn’t really need it, but it was a fun project. They essentially assign you an unused tail number which you program into your transponder, along with a foreflight callsign.

Anyone using an ADS-B receiver sees your alternate tail number instead of your real tail number. An added bonus is that I can give my foreflight callsign to whoever I want to actually be able to track me.

It’s only good for domestic flights, but switching back and forth only takes a few min to swap settings in the GTX345.

I know someone could probably figure it out and link my foreflight callsign to my real tail number, but it’s better than nothing.

[EricJ]

19 minutes ago, Scottknoll said:

Anyone using an ADS-B receiver sees your alternate tail number instead of your real tail number. An added bonus is that I can give my foreflight callsign to whoever I want to actually be able to track me.

That doesn't seem to fool flightaware, as it just shows both N-numbers, one on the display and the other on the info box when you click on it.   At least, I see that once in a while these days.

[Scottknoll]

Interesting, I can’t find either tail number when I’m using mine. Here is another foreflight operator and I can’t find either tail number for them either.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/FFL543/history/20211211/2110Z/KFNL/KEDC

I’m curious, because I have my real tail number blocked through LADD, and I’ve never been able to find my actual tail number. The crowdsourced ADSB sites always show the false N number that I was given by the FAA.

If you’ve got an example, I’d be interested to see it. My transponder only broadcasts the false N number, and the real N number is blocked at the FAA level. I was under the assumption that only the FAA knew the two were linked.

[EricJ]

4 minutes ago, Scottknoll said:

If you’ve got an example, I’d be interested to see it. My transponder only broadcasts the false N number, and the real N number is blocked at the FAA level. I was under the assumption that only the FAA knew the two were linked.

Next time I see it I'll try to get a screen capture.