> You can't fly anonymously and, as far back as I can remember, never could.

This is only true for commercial flights. If you charter a plane you can be as anonymous as you like.

> But he already knew who you were before you signed a lease

Add a single third party, like the police to this mix, and the problem should become apparent. Whether or not my landlord has access to this information is one problem, who they can share it and how they share it is another.

▲

Spooky23 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Pre-911, you absolutely could. On my first job, a consultant had a family emergency and couldn’t fly out to a client. I met him at the airport bar, grabbed the tickets, and was on the plane 20 minutes later. This probably 1998 or 99.

My uncle serviced turbines for power plants. Power plants are often in the back of nowhere. He travelled with a few thousand dollars and a revolver into the 1970s.

▲

sokoloff 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> If you charter a plane you can be as anonymous as you like

In practical terms: Not any more.

You must present a REAL-ID compliant ID as of May 7, 2025 for Part 135 (charter) flights using aircraft with maximum certificated takeoff weight over 12,500 lbs [which is almost all of them].

ID is not required for straight Part 91 flights (private aviation), though the pilot or operator has to identify all adults if the aircraft has MGTOW over 12,500 pounds and is operating under Part 91K.

You can remain anonymous if you own/borrow a plane or charter a light plane so long as you operate only from airports where TSA doesn't run the FBO security.

NBAA link: https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/part-135/real-id-deadli...

▲

themafia 2 days ago | parent [-]

> You must present a REAL-ID compliant ID

Only the crew is required to validate them and you're not required to pass through any TSA checkpoint to achieve this. The operator is not required to do anything other than manually verify your ID. They do not have to submit your information to any specific system.

> and is operating under Part 91K.

91K covers multiple owner aircraft, and the only implications for ID as far as I can tell, is the technical understanding of who "controls" the flight and therefore who should check the IDs.

> only from airports where TSA doesn't run the FBO security.

The TSA controls all security by law. They usually allow operators to contract with a private company to do screening. Which FBOs are the TSA immediately running security for?

	▲	sokoloff 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		At Signature at Logan, I had to go through formal non-FBO security (including a metal detector) in our Part 91 light piston single. I’m virtually certain it was TSA (but could have been contracted). I’ve had metal detector and uniformed security treatment at some other class Bs and even at Wheeling, WV (which was entirely out of place compared to the scale of that airport). In any case, even if it’s just the crew that has to validate your ID, that still prevents you from traveling as anonymously as you like, doesn’t it?

▲

randomjoe2 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

oh wow yeah all of us are chartering planes left and right for privacy reasons, really good point man

	▲	themafia 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Why you would be mad at me for pointing this out and not at Congress for creating such an absurd outcome is beyond me.