In an email, Sweeney told The Verge that learning “who owns what planes already requires research,” and that he and other jet trackers often “use the media and associated sources” rather than the FAA’s database of registrations.
The FAA said on Friday that it’s considering defaulting to withholding personally identifiable information from registration records. Even if jet trackers relied more on the FAA’s database, Sweeney suspected that the rule doesn’t apply to those who register their jets with trusts or other entities, something he says private jet owners do regularly. However, FAA spokesperson Kevin Morris told The Verge in an email that when it says it will withhold “personally identifiable information,” it’s referring “to both individuals and entities (trusts, LLCs, etc.) operating private aircraft.”
We’ve also reached out to the National Business Aviation Association for comment on Sweeney’s commentary.
