Inside the FBI Aircraft Fleet: Surveillance Capabilities and Flight Operations 

Aviation is a major part of most major law enforcement programs across the nation, and the FBI is no exception. FBI planes are a major force across the nation and as one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the nation, the FBI aviation program covers a lot of territory. They have an inventory of unmanned aircraft and manned aircraft that some people might call spy planes, but these all come together to form a formidable fleet to help local law enforcement and FBI officials stop criminal activity. 

Let’s take a look at their surveillance equipment, the FBI’s planes, and the program in general.   

Overview of the FBI’s Aviation Program

The FBI uses aviation assets routinely to support investigations and to target specific individuals. The fleet is not used for mass surveillance, but is instead designed for precise and pinpointed uses. The FBI’s aviation program plays a crucial role in supporting the agency’s operations on the ground, with a fleet of aircraft equipped with advanced surveillance technology.

The program is not secret, but specific aircraft and their capabilities are protected for operational security purposes. This is pretty standard with federal law enforcement agencies, many of which have their own planes. 

The FBI’s aviation program is used to support a wide range of law enforcement activities, including counterterrorism, drug enforcement, and surveillance. This occasionally means that they assist local police for information gathering missions. The FBI’s ability to support the justice department relies on using all kinds of assets. The total number of aircraft owned or operated by the FBI is hard to tell because, since they are an intelligence agency, they are not obligated to report their aircraft fleet. 

“Although the FBI owns aircraft, it is not required to report information to FAIRS because it is an intelligence agency; hence, its mission is neither reflected below nor in this report.” 

This quote is from Appendix I of GAO-17-73R Reported Inventory, Use, and Cost of Federally Owned Aircraft.  Since there is no requirement for them to provide an inventory, it’s hard to say what it actually is but some sources suggest a fleet of aircraft numbering between 120-150. But again, you can’t really put an exact number on this because it is kept rather secretive. 

‍

FBI Aircraft Fleet and Technological Capabilities

Again, we don’t really know quite what the entire fleet is made up of in terms of numbers but we have at least a cursory knowledge of them. The FBI’s fleet includes over 100 aircraft, including Cessna 182T Skylane and Beechcraft King Air Series, equipped with high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors, and advanced radar systems. Recall that their primary purpose is to build a case against criminal activity.   

The aircraft are also sometimes equipped with cell site simulators, which can track thousands of cellphones and gather intelligence on suspects. The FBI emulates cell towers to get suspects exact locations and date/time groups on their suspects. 

This is fascinating and has been proven to be extremely effective over the years; it was essentially this type of technology and process that was used to track down and ultimately take down Pablo Escobar in Medellin, Colombia in 1993. If you can track a criminal’s communications, you can uncover their entire operations, their associates, and of course, their location. 

In order to protect their fleet and to protect OPSEC, the FBI’s aircraft are registered to fictitious company names, such as RKT Productions and KQM Aviation, to protect the safety of pilots and avoid detection. Flight tracking is leaps and bounds above where it was even a few years ago with numerous websites like ADSB Exchange and FlightRadar24 readily available to everyone. 

Of course criminals who are a little paranoid about whereabouts being revealed use these free trackers, so the best course of action for the FBI is to register their aircraft identification numbers as a fake owner/operator. If the ADS-B tag shows it as operated by the Department of Justice and it is flying an orbit over a specific area, it is a dead giveaway to their targets. 

Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations

One concern that does come up a lot is what exactly the FBI planes are being used for. Not about whether or not they are being used for surveillance; that is already understood. The concern is more about how broad the surveillance operations are. 

The FBI’s aerial surveillance program is used to support specific investigations of serious crimes, not for mass surveillance, according to the FBI. This is taken from a public statement on the FBI aviation press release (emphasis added):  “These aircraft are not equipped, designed, or used for bulk collection activities or mass surveillance, and are not routinely equipped with cell site simulators. With a court order, or under exigent circumstances such as a hostage situation, the aircraft can be fitted to include a cell site simulator. However, this is rarely utilized, and only with senior level approval. The FBI does not monitor lawfully protected first amendment activity.”

The program uses high-resolution video cameras and augmented reality software to conduct aerial surveillance over American cities. Most of these end up being in major cities because that is simply where most of the criminal activity exists, in places like Southern California. Serious criminals take their freedom to move around very seriously, so keeping the aircraft inconspicuous and anonymous is important. 

The FBI’s surveillance aircraft are equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, allowing for real-time monitoring of areas of interest and identification of suspicious behavior.

Flight Operations and Training

Much like a military unit, the FBI conducts their flight operations and training in a very regimented manner. In fact, it is almost identical to military flight operations regulations. The FBI has an internal regulation guide called the Bureau Aviation Regulations which explains the entire program. While this part of the operation is unclassified and open to the public, the actual scope of operations are quite a bit different. 

The FBI’s flight operations are conducted by trained pilots who undergo specialized training programs to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful operations. The structure in their regulation is very much paramilitary, and they have a similar process. The FBI only hires pilot candidates internally; there are no external hires by the FBI. Instead, candidates are selected from the field of existing agents. 

The FBI collaborates with external aviation organizations and institutions to leverage collective experience and resources, enhancing its understanding of the aviation industry. While a fleet of over 100 aircraft may sound big, it is tiny compared to other governmental agencies and especially military flight operations. 

The agency also provides training programs for its personnel on aircraft operations, surveillance, and counterterrorism. Not everything can be farmed out; their missions themselves are most definitely sensitive and classified in nature, so 

Counterterrorism and Tactical Intelligence

The FBI’s Aviation Division plays a vital role in combating terrorism within the aviation sector, working closely with the TSA, DHS, and the intelligence community. They also work closely with local police and LEO for their missions. 

The Bureau’s Aviation Division actively contributes to counterterrorism efforts by gathering intelligence, detecting potential threats, and disrupting terrorist activities. Obviously, in light of 9/11, this has been of the highest priority for over two decades now and will be for decades to come. 

Aerial surveillance is a critical component of the FBI’s intelligence-gathering capabilities within the aviation sector. 

Controversies and Concerns

The FBI’s aerial surveillance program has raised concerns about mass surveillance and the potential for abuse of power. However, these concerns are probably largely misplaced because of the types of tools and assets that the FBI possesses and uses. They are not built to conduct mass surveillance because they are equipped to monitor specific targets in a specific target area. 

The use of cell site simulators has also raised concerns about the impact on civil liberties and the potential for targeting innocent individuals. By their own admission listed above, they are not using FBI planes and assets for mass surveillance or surveilling random citizens. Their missions are targeted and very specific. 

The FBI’s use of front companies to register its aircraft has also raised questions about transparency and accountability. But on the other hand, their missions are very sensitive, especially if a flight tracking website shows their positions and maneuvering. They are in a position where they must cloak their positions to protect their mission integrity, and the safety of their teams. 

Future of FBI Aviation

Technology is certainly going to be a major change agent for FBI aviation. They have to evolve to remain relevant, because their adversaries are absolutely committed to using the latest tech to cover their tracks. 

The FBI’s Aviation Division will continue to evolve and adapt to effectively counter emerging threats and secure the aviation sector. We can’t even quite comprehend what the threat landscape will look like in one or two decades. Think about 9/11. How far has technology advanced since then? It’s hard to even fathom it. 

The Bureau will need to adapt its strategies, technologies, and training programs to address emerging challenges, including the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and drone technology. We have all known it for a long time, but UAS are the wave of the future for intelligence gathering and surveillance. Of course, UAS also trigger a lot of ethical questions about whether or not they are appropriate to use over American soil, aren’t they going to conduct mass surveillance, and so on. 

The FBI will also need to balance its need for surveillance and intelligence-gathering with concerns about civil liberties and transparency. This is, without a doubt, one of their biggest overall issues. But the scales tip in the favor of using FBI planes for case work that requires an eye in the sky approach. 

Their mix of aircraft will most likely continue to be a good blend of helicopters which are the most versatile aircraft type in the fleet, single-engine piston aircraft for all kinds of general surveillance work, and the classic workhorse Beechcraft King Air. King Airs are used by a number of federal agencies, making them an ideal choice for the FBI aviation community. There are already established procurement channels and it is a proven surveillance platform. The King Air has been used for ISR for over fifty years, so there are abundant spare parts and it is proven to be rugged and unflinchingly reliable. 

Parting Thoughts

The FBI fleet is one of the premier assets for identifying and tracking major criminal activity throughout the U.S. Their fleet of over 100 aircraft are perfectly suited for tracking criminals in major cities across the nation, and helping local law enforcement when need be. A lot of their fleet is made up of inconspicuous small aircraft which are also ideally suited for the job because they can be operated out of thousands of airports across the country without drawing any attention to themselves. 

The FBI’s aircraft fleet and surveillance capabilities play a critical role in supporting the agency’s operations on the ground and combating terrorism and crime. It isn’t totally clear whether the fleet will grow or remain the same size, but their technology will certainly increase and with that comes demand for technical services. While the program has raised concerns about mass surveillance and civil liberties, the FBI has emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability. 

As the aviation sector continues to evolve, the FBI will need to adapt its strategies and technologies to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensure the safety and security of the American public. And part of this process is ensuring that their fleet of aircraft are the safest in the sky. 

The Greenwood Solution

Like many other law enforcement agencies, the FBI turns to aviation assets for much of their surveillance and intelligence-gathering work. These aircraft put in long hours to keep tabs on our nation’s security interests and they will eventually break down. Greenwood Aerospace is the government procurement specialist you need to partner with. We are here for 

  • Military flight ops
  • Federal government agencies
  • State government agencies

Give us a call at (580) 762-2580, or start an online quote today!