BARR Facing Possible Limitations

Eligibility for participating in the FAA's Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program-which allows aircraft operators with "privacy and industrial security concerns" to prevent their airplanes from being visible on online-flight tracking services-may be severely limited this month. That's because of a planned review by the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to Ed Bolen, CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, which administers the tail-number-blocking service. "The DOT is considering limiting BARR to only those with bona-fide security concerns," Bolen said last week.

Pressure for the DOT review likely stemmed from a 2009 Freedom of Information Request from ProPublica. The request sought names of BARR participants and resulted in widespread negative media coverage.