Toobuilder
Well Known Member
...You might be shocked at the info that is readily available.
Just out of curiosity, I was looking for pictures of my airplane from before I owned it, and found that and more. I also found pictures of my airplane with me flying/near it! Apparently, some people make quite a hobby out of photographing every airplane in existence and posting it on the web. That's not too bad, but what gets the paranoid side of me going is the little box next to the picture with the FAA registration info right next to it. So there's me, my airplane, and my address all over the web without my prior knowledge. I know it's "public" info, but still... not cool. I wonder if the photographer would like me to post pictures of his daughter/wife standing by their car at the supermarket and also give the address?
But wait, there's more. If you have used flight following recently, the departure and landing location, time, date, speed and ground track are displayed on another site for the whole web to see. I know some of you like that sort of thing with your SPOT devices, but I'm one who considers that a substantial invasion of privacy. This is not to mention how easily this info could be used against you by someone so inclined. Heck, I don't even use my N number when calling on the radio unless it's an ATC facility just because of local people "harvesting" registration numbers and registering bogus complaints at a nearby airport.
Perhaps I'm just not as comfortable with the information age as I should be, but am I the only one who thinks too much information is a bad thing? Google your N number before you respond.
Just out of curiosity, I was looking for pictures of my airplane from before I owned it, and found that and more. I also found pictures of my airplane with me flying/near it! Apparently, some people make quite a hobby out of photographing every airplane in existence and posting it on the web. That's not too bad, but what gets the paranoid side of me going is the little box next to the picture with the FAA registration info right next to it. So there's me, my airplane, and my address all over the web without my prior knowledge. I know it's "public" info, but still... not cool. I wonder if the photographer would like me to post pictures of his daughter/wife standing by their car at the supermarket and also give the address?
But wait, there's more. If you have used flight following recently, the departure and landing location, time, date, speed and ground track are displayed on another site for the whole web to see. I know some of you like that sort of thing with your SPOT devices, but I'm one who considers that a substantial invasion of privacy. This is not to mention how easily this info could be used against you by someone so inclined. Heck, I don't even use my N number when calling on the radio unless it's an ATC facility just because of local people "harvesting" registration numbers and registering bogus complaints at a nearby airport.
Perhaps I'm just not as comfortable with the information age as I should be, but am I the only one who thinks too much information is a bad thing? Google your N number before you respond.