Protect Your Privacy with the FltPlan® Dot Com (DCM) Call Sign and a
Private ICAO Address
With a DCM sign from FltPlan.com and a private ICAO (Mode S) address from the FAA, ADS–B Out–equipped aircraft now can fly anonymously. Phase I of the FAA’s new Privacy ICAO Address (PIA) program, which launched on Jan. 1, directly addresses privacy concerns head–on by providing a domestic operator with a private ICAO code that replaces the registration number in their mode S transponder.
Phase I of the PIA program is being administered by the FAA, and PIA requests are free of charge. Phase II of the program is planned for a mid–2020 start with plans to transition to a third–party service provider.
Is my aircraft eligible for the PIA program?
The PIA program is limited to the following:
- U.S. registered aircraft
- Equipped with 1090 MHz ADS–B
- Authorized to use a third-party call sign
- Flying in domestic U.S. airspace
- Verify your ADS–B Out installation by requesting an initial Performance Report (PAPR). The request must be made for a flight within 180 days that was flown for a minimum of 30 minutes within an ADS–B coverage area.
- Provide proof of authorization to use a third–party call sign. Since a third–party call sign is required and FltPlan is an FAA–authorized provider, our DCM call sign program is a great choice at only $250 per year per aircraft. We can set you up quickly and provide you with documentation confirming your DCM call sign assignment.
- Request a PIA from the FAA. The request process includes acknowledgment of both the FAA notification of collection and management of personally identifiable information (PII) for the management of PIA assignment and PIA Articles of Use in the NAS.
- Valid aircraft registration (permanent ICAO aircraft address) for the aircraft that will be assigned the PIA.
- Proof of authorization to use a third–party call sign. We can provide this for DCM call sign subscribers.
- The aircraft owner’s contact information (phone number, e–mail address, business or home address, and individual/company/organization information).
- The requester’s contact information.
- Self–reporting of ADS–B emitter performance (the FAA system will verify that an initial PAPR was requested within the past 180 days).
- Type of use, i.e., business or personal.
- Program the PIA into your transponder. PIA participants should follow the guidance provided by their ADS–B equipment manufacturer to make changes to their 24–bit ICAO address. For Garmin transponder or TCAS systems, an update to the system ICAO address is a simple change to configuration that any Garmin certified installer can support. For GIFD installations, the process of performing this change is documented in the line maintenance manual for the aircraft. For non–GIFD installations, the process of performing this change is documented in the TSO or STC installation manual.
- Obtain a PAPR to verify PIA installation. This must be completed within 30 days of PIA installation.
Once your PIA has been assigned and programmed, enter your private ICAO address on the FltPlan A/C ICAO Data page, and then complete a flight using the PIA and DCM call sign to obtain the PAPR for final verification.
To learn more about the PIA program, click here.
About the FltPlan DCM Call Sign
When you register your aircraft for our DCM call sign program, you are assigned a blocked call sign, a trackable call sign, and if you want to enroll in our Premium Flight Tracking services, a vendor–blocked call sign. In addition, you are also assigned a random call sign for each flight.
To keep your data out of the FAA’s ASDI feed, DCM call sign users should block their tail number with the FAA’s Limiting Aircraft Display Data (LADD) program, formerly the Blocked Aircraft Registration Request BARR program. Aircraft previously blocked through the BARR program have been transitioned to the new LADD program.
If you fly with a DCM call sign, you must file your flight plan with FltPlan.com. When you create your flight plan, simply select a DCM call sign for your flight from the drop–down list on the flight plan entry page. Be sure to enter the DCM call sign as the flight ID in your ADS–B Out equipment prior to departure.
If you fly internationally and the FAA’s PIA program is not appropriate for your operation, flying with a blocked tail number and DCM call sign offers a level of privacy to owners and operators. If your tail number is blocked and you’re flying with a DCM call sign, your flight will be associated with that call sign. Vendors who honor the blocked tail list will not publish your tail number. And, for those who do not, your departure location is not visible until after takeoff, and your arrival will not be visible until you’ve landed.
To learn more or to enroll in the FltPlan DCM call sign program, call our sales office at 203–262–8942.
Advertise on FltPlan.com
FltPlan advertisers are tapped into an audience of 175,000 active aviation professionals – decision–makers and influencers. Options include FltBrief sponsorship, FBO advertising on our airport information pages, and display advertising in high–impact positions on the FltPlan.com website. We offer a range of solutions to suit your needs and budget.
For more information, write to Advertising@FltPlan.com or call 203-262-8942.
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