For many years, aircraft owners in the United States had very little privacy when it came to FAA aircraft registration records. A simple search of an aircraft N-number on the FAA website could reveal the owner’s full name, mailing address, and other identifying information to virtually anyone online. While the registry was originally designed to promote transparency and accountability within aviation, many private aircraft owners grew increasingly concerned about the amount of personal information being made publicly accessible.
In today’s world of online databases, data scraping, social media, and real-time flight tracking, that information can quickly spread far beyond the FAA website itself. Aircraft owners have long voiced concerns over personal security, unwanted solicitations, harassment, and even the exposure of their home addresses simply because they owned an airplane. In response to these growing concerns, Congress enacted new privacy protections through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, creating a new process under Title 49 of the United States Code Section 44114 that allows aircraft owners to request that their personally identifiable information be withheld from public display.
Under 49 U.S.C. § 44114, eligible aircraft owners and operators may now request that the FAA remove certain personal information from publicly accessible registry searches and websites. This includes information such as the registered owner’s name, mailing address, physical address, telephone number, and email address. Once approved, the FAA suppresses that information from public-facing searches, replacing it with a notice indicating that the owner has requested privacy protections under federal law.
This change represents one of the most significant privacy improvements for general aviation owners in decades. Prior to this law, many aircraft owners attempted to protect their identity through the use of LLCs, trusts, or corporate ownership structures. While those methods are still commonly used, the new law finally gives individual aircraft owners a direct mechanism to request privacy protection without the need to establish complex ownership entities.
The FAA now processes these requests through its Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services platform, commonly referred to as CARES. Aircraft owners can create an account through the FAA CARES portal and submit a written request electronically. The request itself is relatively simple and generally includes the aircraft registration number, serial number, owner information, and a statement requesting that the FAA withhold personally identifiable information from public dissemination pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 44114.
A typical request letter may state that the registered owner is requesting removal of personal information from FAA public registry systems under the authority granted by federal law. Once submitted and processed, public searches of the aircraft registration will continue to display general aircraft information such as the make, model, registration status, and airworthiness information, but the owner information fields will no longer be publicly visible.
It is important for aircraft owners to understand that this law does not create complete anonymity. The FAA still maintains the ownership records internally, and certain government agencies or authorized parties may continue to have access to the information for regulatory, safety, or law enforcement purposes. The law primarily limits public dissemination and display of the information through FAA public-facing systems. Additionally, some ownership information may still exist in third-party databases, historical records, or archived registry data that was previously published before the privacy request was filed.
Even with those limitations, the law is a major step forward for protecting the privacy of general aviation aircraft owners. As flight tracking technology and online data aggregation continue to evolve, many owners view these protections as an important safeguard against unnecessary public exposure. For owners who keep their aircraft registered at a personal residence, the ability to remove their home address from a public database provides an added layer of security and peace of mind.
The process itself is straightforward, and many aircraft owners may find it worthwhile to submit a request, especially if their aircraft is currently registered in their personal name. As the FAA continues implementing the new law and refining the process, additional guidance and privacy enhancements may become available in the future.
For aircraft owners seeking greater privacy while still maintaining compliance with federal registration requirements, 49 U.S.C. § 44114 provides a long-awaited solution that balances transparency in aviation with modern concerns surrounding personal data protection.
How to Submit a Privacy Request to the FAA
The FAA now accepts requests electronically through its Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) platform.
Step 1: Create a CARES Account
Visit the Login.gov to register for an account and then procced to https://cares.faa.gov/
Step 2: Prepare a Written Request
The FAA currently requires a simple PDF request that includes:
- A statement requesting removal of your personal information from public dissemination under 49 U.S.C. § 44114
- Aircraft N-number
- Aircraft serial number
- Registered owner information
- Signature
According to FAA guidance, the request must clearly communicate that you are voluntarily requesting the withholding of your information from public display.
Step 3: Upload Through CARES
Upload the signed PDF request through the CARES system.
To Upload the PDF – Navigate to Get Started > Aircraft Services > Submit Other Aircraft Document (Select Other Support Documents from request type menu)
Once processed, your ownership information should no longer appear publicly in FAA registry searches.
Sample Request Letter
Below is a simple example format:
Subject: Request to Withhold Aircraft Ownership Data Under 49 U.S.C. § 44114
To Whom It May Concern,
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 44114, I respectfully request that the FAA withhold my personally identifiable information from public dissemination and display on FAA publicly accessible websites and aircraft registry systems.
Registered Owner: John Doe
Aircraft Registration Number: N123AB
Aircraft Serial Number: 12345
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
John Doe
[Your Signature is Required]
