The wealthy have a penchant for activities that enable them to capitalize on their substantial wealth, and conversely, they dislike being held accountable for these actions. A recent development is likely to resonate with them: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has introduced a new rule that simplifies the process for private jet owners to keep their registration information private, potentially making it more challenging to identify and track their movements.

Under the updated policy, aircraft owners can request that their ownership information, including their name and address, be made private and inaccessible to the public via FAA services. This can be achieved by submitting a request through the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES). Furthermore, the agency is evaluating the possibility of making personally identifiable information of private aircraft owners and operators private by default, eliminating the need for a request.

This change is a result of a mandate under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which gave the agency a two-year deadline to develop a system allowing private jet owners and operators to conceal their personal information. The bill, which received bipartisan support and primarily focused on expanding the agency’s functions and improving infrastructure, was signed into law by President Joe Biden in May 2024.

This update provides increased privacy for individuals who frequently use their private jets for trips, such as a long weekend in the Galapagos Islands, but it may hinder efforts to track the activities of celebrities and CEOs as they use large amounts of fuel without consideration for the consequences.

Flight trackers occasionally gain public attention, with a notable instance being when Elon Musk suspended the Twitter account @ElonJet shortly after acquiring the platform. The account simply published the flight activity of Musk’s jet, which significantly annoyed the billionaire. At one point, Musk offered the account operator $5,000 to shut it down, which was declined. The incident also yielded a notable quote from Musk, in which he claimed that people sharing his flight details were posting his “assassination coordinates.”

Musk is not the only celebrity who is likely pleased with the new privacy rules. Taylor Swift has faced significant criticism for her private jet usage and even filed a cease-and-desist against the operator of a flight tracker that logged her travels.

In recent years, celebrities and CEOs have increasingly relied on private flights, according to a 2024 study published in Nature. The study found that individuals with high net worth were using their jets for shorter flights, with about half of all private flights being under 500km (approximately 300 miles). Furthermore, emissions from private trips increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023, according to the study. A report from The Guardian also found that private jets belonging to 200 wealthy individuals made 44,739 trips in 2022, generating more carbon emissions than 40,000 average British citizens do in a year.

It is surprising that they would prefer to keep this information private.