This would cheese me off if I lived in Illinois...I thought the FAA was the authority for issuing airman's certificates, airworthiness and registration, etc.? What business is it of the state of Illinois'? What could they do to you if you failed to "register" with them? They can't keep you from flying, I'd imagine...
Has this been tested in court? Just seems contrary to federal law, to me...
The Illinois statute says, in part,
"These certificates of registration constitute the authorization of such aircraft and airmen for operations within this State to the extent permitted by the federal licenses, certificates or permits so registered."
I thought the "privileges and limitations" of exercising a pilot's license were solely the domain of the FAA as spelled out in the FARs? And airspace is owned by the FAA, no?
As to the other comments...it's not about the money ($15 a year is a pretty tiny amount, after all), but the *reason* for it. The Federal Register Final Rule describes this:
"Law enforcement agencies rely on the
registration database when investigating improper activities such as
drug smuggling. The registration database is used to identify aircraft
that could be used by U.S. armed forces. It also is a resource for
buyers and sellers of aircraft and for banks that may finance those
transactions.
The FAA and other government agencies are increasingly developing
sophisticated uses that are enabled by progressing technology. An
example is Automatic Detection and Processing Terminal or ADAPT, a
program developed by the FAA Strategic Operations Security with the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA). (See 70 FR 73323,
December 9, 2005.) This program continuously draws registration
information for combination with other data, satellite feeds, and radar
to develop a display of the national airspace complete with the
registration status of each aircraft that is operating on a filed
flight plan. Using this information, appropriate safety, security, and
law enforcement actions can be initiated. The development of the ADAPT
program and other safety- and security-related programs demand an
accurate database."
THAT worries me...I don't trust the TSA as far as I can throw them, let alone other "law enforcement" agencies. Just another part of the giant "security theater" nonsense, and a result of the "keep the people scared" mentality that has permeated the government since 9/11.
And lest anyone want to blame the current administration, please not the date on the FR for ADAPT mentioned above. And that's just *an example* of the things they say this data is used for. Swell.