Mode S Transponder
 

Is it possible to remove my aircraft reg from a Garmin GTX330 mode S transponder?
I am flying VFR ONLY and do not wish my flights to be published on aircraft tracking sites.

I think you can set the transmitted ID to be anything you want. Commercial flights usually transmit their (variable) flight number. Whether it is legal to do so is quite another question. Transmitting your reg certainly makes life easier when talking to controllers because they have often identified you before you call them.

I think you will find that, even with a blank aircraft registration, your flight can be tracked, and your aircraft identified, by the transmitted ICAO code that is unique to your aircraft.

That's what I thought, too. And while the end-user can change the registration, the ICAO id can only be set by an approved workshop or engineer.

There are lists out on the www that translate icao codes to registrations, too.

When we fitted a Trig Mode S to our LAA Permit Jodel we set all the info.
You need the installation manual.

Mode S Transponder
 

Thank you all for your replies.
Looks like it’s pointless to remove so I will leave it as is.

I think you can approach the likes of FR24 and ask them not to display yr registration

I don't know the exact process but I know that it can be done.

I think you have to cite privacy and GDPR regulations as regards their use of data they hold about you.

You have to approach each site individually.

"Q: How is ADS-B Exchange different than “other” flight tracking sites?

A: ADS-B Exchange operates a bit differently from other flight tracking sites. As a group of aviation enthusiasts, our primary goal is to answer the question of “what’s up there” rather than “is grandma’s flight on-time”.

• You’ll never see an aircraft censored or “blocked” from our site. If one of our feeders is receiving it, the data will be there. This includes military, and other aircraft that attempt to be “unlisted”. Hint: to see some of the planes not shown by other sites, from the map page, right-hand column, Filters -> LADD -> Filter. This primarily applies to US registered aircraft."

Of course, anyone who is actually in the UK and is supplying data to FR24 is actually breaking the law - not that many people seem to think that's important!

I can't move without FlightAware and ADS-B picking me up. I appear to be in stealth mode as far as FR24 is concerned.
No idea why.

I have heard a number of people say this but I've always wondered which bit of legislation is involved. Just curiosity really, but can you explain?

What nefarious activities are you doing that you don't want your flights to be tracked? Why does the fact you only fly VFR make any difference to your conspicuity?

Not in anyway saying its the case for this poster but I've 'heard stories' of a bloke who after getting done infringing no longer even switches the thing on...I'm sure he isnt alone
Bloody stupid but I'll bet its the number one reason for people not switching their XPDR to alt or even not switching it on at all

I don't know the rules in UK but, in USA, it is illegal not to operate an installed ADS-B Out system or transponder. The penalties for intentionally turning it off may be more severe then the penalities for the infraction you hoped to hide.

The only legal option in USA is to have the system removed from the aircraft and have the removal recorded in the aircraft log by a qualified person. Not an option for me as ADS-B Out is required a my base airport.

In the UK, it's very difficult now to drive your car and not be detected by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera. It is illegal to remove or deface your number plate so it can't be read by these cameras. This is an interesting parallel to the UK law requiring you to have your transponder on when flying. If you don't like having your car 'pinged' by cameras, ride a push bike. If you don't like your aircraft to show on radar or other sites, don't fly it!
TOO

UK Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006:-

48 Interception and disclosure of messages

(1) A person commits an offence if, [without lawful authority] —

(a) he uses wireless telegraphy apparatus with intent to obtain information as to the contents, sender or addressee of a message (whether sent by means of wireless telegraphy or not) of which neither he nor a person on whose behalf he is acting is an intended recipient, or

(b )he discloses information as to the contents, sender or addressee of such a message.

(2) A person commits an offence under this section consisting in the disclosure of information only if the information disclosed by him is information that would not have come to his knowledge but for the use of wireless telegraphy apparatus by him or by another person.

This is really interesting. The 'intended recipient' of my ADS-B 'out' transmissions is anyone in the vicinity who is airborne or another agency on the ground using the information for my benefit. This includes someone in the clubhouse looking at FR24 to see when the aircraft will be back for sortie planning purposes. In order for this to work, the information needs to be presented on a web site via the internet.
Someone needs to bring a test case to see if transponder transmissions are covered by the definition 'wireless telegraphy'. Strictly, 'telegraphy' means 'the long distance transmission of written messages' (from the ancient Greek).
It's also interesting that in the US (and Canada it seems) we can listen to ATC voice transmissions and get an instant replay on social media whenever there is an accident or incident, whereas in the UK, you never hear a peep - probably due to people being afraid of the WTA 2006.
Freedom of Information seems a lot free-er in some places than others...
TOO

I did some searching and found a FoI request asking how many investigations and prosecutions have been made so far under the 2006 Act. The answer was three investigations, but that covers the entire spectrum including police, armed forces, etc. Also, OFCOM made excuses and declined to say how many prosecutions, or even successful ones, had resulted, which leads me to think the answer is close to or at zero.

Listening to ATC at home? Technically illegal but probably alongside walking on the cracks in the pavement as something that would actually go to court...

But they don't have a website that makes the info on where your car pinged an ANPR camera available to anyone who wants to see it do they?

Your comparison is not especially valid.