ADS-B and Anonymity

[BKK117]

I'm sure some of you have the same concerns that I have about the FAA having a complete and permanent record of every movement your airplane makes. It's been said that they "have no plans to use ADS-B for enforcement" but color me skeptical. If you transmit your N number continuously then the FAA and anyone else can track every movement you make or ever made for that matter.

Since my livelihood is airline flying it occurs to me that I will be risking a lot if I unwittingly run afoul of one of the thousands of regulations while I'm flying my RV-8. With ADS-B transmitting exactly who I am and what I'm doing, well, they've never had that amount of resolution and data before.

Navworx advertises a "stealth" mode on the ADS600-EXP when you squawk 1200 but I just installed a Garmin G3X system with a GDL-39R and have no idea how they would interface.
I've been back and forth with Garmin about this and they are saying their GTX 327 and a GDL 84 combination would support a anonymous mode. Not an inexpensive solution to say the least.

So, any of you smart folks out there with G3X systems have a solution?

Thanks in advance...
BK

RV-8

[Vern]

....who promised to never use social security numbers for identification

....and that your contributions to SS would be set aside for your future use.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by Vern

....who promised to never use social security numbers for identification

....and that your contributions to SS would be set aside for your future use.

...and, "If you like your current medical insurance plan, you can keep it!"

[airguy]

With a mode-S transponder, you would have to remove your hex code (or turn it off) for true anonymity as well as disabling ADSB-out.

Dynon Skyview makes it pretty easy to do both of those, not sure about other equipment.

[dynonsupport]

Greg,
Just so there isn't future confusion If you remove the ICAO (hex) code from the transponder it will not turn on (even as a Mode-C or Mode-A) and there is no way to turn off ADS-B out.

[FasGlas]

If this actually comes to fruition as we know it now, I'm sure it wouldn't take much to disable ADS-B out with a flick of a switch, per say. Most GA flights aren't in mandatory ADS-B zones anyway. So flick it on when needed and flick it off when you don't want to be tracked. -Disable or code change- I'm sure this will become a common practice.

[airguy]

Originally Posted by dynonsupport

Greg,
Just so there isn't future confusion If you remove the ICAO (hex) code from the transponder it will not turn on (even as a Mode-C or Mode-A) and there is no way to turn off ADS-B out.

Sure there is - I have a breaker for that!

[dynonsupport]

If anonymity is important to you, you must run a Mode-C transponder and a UAT.

A Mode-S transponder transmits your ICAO code with every radar reply even if it is not an ADS-B OUT transponder, and there is no allowed anonymous code or lack of transmitting this. Per the FAR, you cannot disable the transponder in flight except in "non controlled airspace" (class G) if there is one in the plane. So, if you have a Mode-S transponder, from any manufacturer, you will be transmitting an ICAO code.

If you have a UAT, you can put it in anonymous mode while your Mode-C continues to operate. That feature was designed in from day one of ADS-B and is available in many UAT units. The challenge is that for most new aircraft, and even in some retrofits, this method of compliance costs more than just a Mode-S transponder.

FAR 91.215:

(c) Transponder-on operation. While in the airspace as specified in paragraph (b) of this section or in all controlled airspace, each person operating an aircraft equipped with an operable ATC transponder maintained in accordance with §91.413 of this part shall operate the transponder, including Mode C equipment if installed, and shall reply on the appropriate code or as assigned by ATC.

[alcladrv]

I too have concerns about others collecting info about you and your whereabouts without your knowledge. I'd heard that even without ADS-B, there are small and cheap Mode S receivers that can gather the same info. One company named PASSUR has setup Mode S receivers nearly collocated with ATC radar to obtain info on all planes using Mode S transponders, including those trying to block their N-numbers through the BARR program, and selling the information to FBOs and others. By knowing your departure point, destination point and aircraft type, PASSUR can predict how fuel you're likely to need upon landing, especially for turboprops and jets. They try to sell that to FBOs for marketing purposes. How's that for big brother, and that's not even the government?

Turning your transponder to standby gives you the anonymity but defeats the purpose of ADS-B. My ADS-B in only GDL-39 on my G3X gave me a heads up on overflying traffic that I was climbing into, while VFR enroute without flight following, last weekend causing me to leveloff until the other plane passed and therefore avoid a close encounter of the 1st kind.

[Walt]

Correct me if I'm wrong but that looks like a GTX320 Mode A/C transponder in your panel in which case you aren't broadcasting anything other than squawk code and altitude