DOT will invite comments from affected parties before it changes eligibility requirements for the Block Aircraft Registration Request program. As we reported last week, the National Business Aviation Association sent notice to members warning that the DOT was reviewing the program, which allows aircraft owners to conceal their registration to prevent tracking of aircraft movements. The program was introduced in 2000. In 2010, ProPublica, an investigative journalism website, won a court decision that resulted in the BARR program tail numbers being released.
NBAA has been in contact with DOT since it learned the department was looking at making it a lot harder to qualify for the program. NBAA was given until Tuesday to comment on the proposal and that might be the end of it. If, however, the DOT decides to consider the idea further, it will broaden its search for comments. NBAA says the DOT has assured that “prior to making any decision to limit eligibility for the BARR program, it will issue a notice inviting interested persons to submit comments on such limitations.” If and when that happens, the notice will be immediately circulated to members.
