A transport safety bill passed in the House of Representatives is drawing criticism from Democrats that could block agencies from using flight data to help locate privately owned jets.

Aircraft Data Used To Identify Private Jets

According to a report by Politico on Sunday, lawmakers argue that the provision would make it harder to match aircraft seen in their jurisdiction to ownership records, while supporters of the restriction counter that the broadcasts were required for safety compliance and shouldn't be repurposed to generate tax bills.

The tracking technology, known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) and used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), transmits details such as location and an identification number.

Jeff Prang, Los Angeles County's assessor, said in the report that his office has used the broadcast data since January 1st to identify about 1,000 additional aircraft in the county, totaling $3.5 billion in assessed value. It accounts for $35 million in property taxes, the report said.

Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump's FAA administrator, told lawmakers at a May 19 hearing that the agency opposes using ADS-B for airport revenue collection, the report said.

Private Jet Demand Increased For Cannes, Monaco Grand Prix

Private jet operators said on Monday that demand from affluent travelers increased, according to a Reuters report. Private jet executives tied the increase to travelers seeking more predictable travel for events like the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Jet fuel prices have surged since the conflict began in late February, prompting airlines to trim service and charge more. According to data by Airlines for America, jet fuel costs $3.20/gallon on Friday.

Private flying has expanded, according to market research firm WINGX cited in the report, which estimated that global private departures were up about 4% this year.

Iran War, Missile Strikes Exchanged

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Economist Peter Schiff argued that President Donald Trump cannot afford to end the war before the U.S. midterm elections, as the war provides his administration with the "perfect scapegoat" to explain the rising costs and inflation in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Iran, Iraq and Syria earlier announced airspace closures following missile strikes exchanged between Iran and Israel, despite Trump signalling optimism about a potential deal with Tehran.

The war in Iran has also sent shipping costs surging, with prices for a 40-foot container shipped from Asia to the U.S. West Coast surging 20%.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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