L.A. County's aircraft-tax effort raises new ADS-B questions

ADS-B technology is a contentious topic in aviation, in part because airports and companies use it to fine pilots and aircraft owners. Now, L.A. is using the technology to find taxable aircraft. What happened According to Los Angeles County Assessor Geoffrey Prang, the county is using ADS-B tracking information to identify aircraft that may be subject to local property taxes. In California, aircraft are taxable based on where they are primarily located and operated, not where they are registered. That means owners from outside California may still be subject to assessments if their aircraft spends sufficient time there. Prang told Fox News that over 1,000 aircraft worth approximately $4 billion have been identified, representing a potential $40 million tax base. A new use for aviation data California and other states have long assessed taxes on qualifying aircraft. What is new is that assessors now have access to this technology and are using it to track aircraft. The debate around ADS-B data boils down to how it is used and who has access to it. The technology was created as a safety and efficiency tool for aviation. However, it also became a tool for airports to collect fees and, now, taxes. As a result, aircraft owners are increasingly viewing ADS-B through both compliance and privacy lenses. Supporters may argue that the county is simply using available information to enforce existing laws. Supporters may argue that the county is simply using available information to enforce existing laws. Why it matters L.A. County may prove important not because of the taxes it collects but because of the precedent it sets. ADS-B is now deeply embedded in U.S. aviation and more agencies are finding new ways to use the data it generates. With acts like the ALERT Act and the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act governing how airports use ADS-B data, debates will now move to how government agencies use it.