I'm sure technology will bring lots more changes to our recreational flying in the near future, but once we all have ADS-B on board every geek on the ground with an iPhone will be able to interrogate you. I just don't like the sound of that...

http://gizmodo.com/5642578/point-an-iph ... planes-fly

I am not much on conspiracy theories, but I agree this appears to have some real downsides.

If some whacko or group of wingnuts have a stinger or RPG available to them and know what exact plane overhead contains their target, this little app makes their life way easier.

People on the ground just don't need to know flight number etc. of a commercial airliner flying over head. I am a big defender of the 1st Amendment, but I am not too sure this is covered.

It is still a bit of a guess which bird is which using the present flight tracking software, but this makes it exact.

TD

The potential threat to commercial traffic is certainly an issue. I was also thinking about Joey Bagadonuts walking out of walmart, seeing Zane benignly drone by in his 170, somehow perceive that what he's doing is dangerous, zapping the plane with his iPhone, and then calling in a complaint to some alphabet soup agency. Then when Z lands he gets the King (John, Martha & Rodney) treatment and has to retain an attorney to defend his actions, all of which were completely legal to begin with. I'm not generally that paranoid but this to me doesn't seem that unlikely a scenario.

Joey Bagadonuts walking out of walmart

Well, since you're making fun of me... it might be time to paint over the big N number I have on the bottom of my wing.

Vick wrote:The potential threat to commercial traffic is certainly an issue. I was also thinking about Joey Bagadonuts walking out of walmart, seeing Zane benignly drone by in his 170, somehow perceive that what he's doing is dangerous, zapping the plane with his iPhone, and then calling in a complaint to some alphabet soup agency. Then when Z lands he gets the King (John, Martha & Rodney) treatment and has to retain an attorney to defend his actions, all of which were completely legal to begin with. I'm not generally that paranoid but this to me doesn't seem that unlikely a scenario.

I agree with Vick here. Or the anti-airplane nut that has some sort of chip on his shoulder reporting anyone who happens to inadvertantly drop below 1000' AGL.

It means now everyone can be a FED and be on the lookout for those dangerous reckless pilots landing on remote roads or hillsides. Small N-Numbers? Doesn't matter anymore, they've got'em right there on their phone.

I wonder how many people will stop flying when the no-fun police are everywhere making flying simply no fun?

WHOA COWBOYS!!!!!

I haven't looked into this app, but I'm sure it gets the position from the iPhone, the flight data from whatever database flightaware and those sites use, puts them together, and come out with a likely airplane. If you aren't on an IFR flt plan or flight following, you won't appear, and if you are, or have been, you could have been followed already. I don't think that getting a clearance into busy airspace registers. If the data comes from something like the flightaware site, the flight data is already available for free and available on the iPhone. The only thing missing is the ability to point the iphone and give a reasonable guess - it only comes up with where you are, and all the airplanes around you.

This info has been available for some time and if you check N-numbers, many corp types have been hidden. I believe anyone can do this, just a registration to block N-numbers, but it only applies to the flight plan and radar tracking and is only a few bucks a year, if you don't want someone to know who the the airplane is that is associated with that track info. I don't think there are any black helicopters there.

Does anyone really believe your freedoms and liberty's are expanding?

So far it looks like the app only works against aircraft equipped with ADS-B, so this won't be a concern for little guys until ADS-B becomes a universal requirement. ADS-B certainly has some positive attributes and capabilities but I would put this capability under the category of "unintended consequences".

This stuff sure scares me! CNN just had a story on it:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/09/24/plane.finder.augmented.reality/index.html?hpt=T2

As far as needing ADS-B, it sounds like it'll be as required as our Mode C transponder in a few years:

http://www.flttechonline.com/Current/FAA%20Proposes%20Initial%20ADS-B%20Mandate%20by%202020.htm

I think that may be the year I strip the electrical system from my airplane...

RDUStinson wrote:..I think that may be the year I strip the electrical system from my airplane...

Before ya do, check the TCDS, that electrical system may be required equipment.
In this age of the cellphone, everyone with one seems to be a busybody. I've heard of people landing seaplanes (esp flying boats) on lakes or rivers, and having police or other emergency types show up because someone called in that they saw a plane crashing. Ditto for off-airport landings, or even on-airport at little-known fields. Bandera along I-90 in Washington east of Seattle is a likely candidate for this-- I'd be surprised if it hasn't already happened at least once.
I had a cop show up at a minor fender-bender car accident I was involved in a few years ago-- all he did was complicate things. If we'd needed a cop, we woulda called one. Cellphones are a godsend when they're needed-- but a lot of times they're just a pain in the ass. Think before you dial.

And while I'm thinking about it, how come I can type in a tailnumber and get the owner's name & address, but not a car license number? Beiung able to get an airplane owner's ame etc has been useful, but it seems like an invasion of privacy eh?

RDUStinson wrote:
..I think that may be the year I strip the electrical system from my airplane...
Before ya do, check the TCDS, that electrical system may be required equipment.

Of course I'm being facetious. When the day comes that the guvmint forces me to spend $10k on gear that does me absolutely no good and provides them little more utility than my mode C does today (plus the fringe benefit of knowing who I am at all times), I plan to begin flying only at altitudes sufficiently low to avoid detection by surveillance radar.

Just block your tailnumber, it doesnt cost anything. You just have to send a fax to the nbaa on company letterhead. You can also remove your address from your airmen search results by emailing the FAA. Unfortanly I have yet to figure out how to block my information from coming up on the FAA N registry!

NineThreeKilo wrote:...........I have yet to figure out how to block my information from coming up on the FAA N registry!

That's what I was talking about.