Privacy Policy

Information we collect

We may collect your name, email address, mobile number, account and organization details, aircraft and pilot assignments, flight and claim records, client or passenger details that an authorized user enters, connected-service settings, support communications, and technical information about how the service is used.

We also process scheduling records, photos, receipts and documents you choose to submit. Optional pilot qualifications may include your date of birth, address, certificate and medical examination information. Access to these records is restricted to authorized reviewers according to their workspace role.

If you save SMS consent during account registration, we also keep a record of that consent, including the disclosure presented, the method of consent, and the date and time of consent. Pilots may turn off messages in Account settings. After opting out, a pilot may resume a prior opt-in by texting START from the same verified mobile number.

How we use information

We use this information to operate FlightVor; detect and display aircraft activity; provide requested notifications and claim requests through available channels; let pilots review and explicitly claim flights; maintain owner and operator records; support connected logbooks; provide on-demand reports; prevent misuse; respond to support requests; and comply with legal obligations.

Mobile app

With your permission, eligible foreground flight detection uses precise location, speed, accuracy and timestamps while FlightVor is visible and your iPhone is unlocked. Foreground observations are eligible for use for up to two hours and may be sent securely for authorized aircraft matching. Foreground collection pauses when you leave or lock the app.

Optional phone-based flight matching is separate from foreground flight detection. Where enabled, enrolled pilots may opt in separately, grant Always and Precise Location access, and explicitly start and stop a flight-only session. During that bounded session, FlightVor may use precise location, speed, accuracy and timestamps while the app is in the background or the iPhone is locked to help match flight activity and provide eligible flight-claim notices. Collection is limited by the session’s original authorization and expiry.

You configure private exclusion areas on this iPhone; they stay on the phone, and FlightVor does not infer all private places for you. Recent motion activity signals are evaluated on the phone before flight-matching evidence is retained. Conservative filters can misclassify activity; uncertain or stale observations are discarded rather than saved for later classification. Detecting an excluded area or driving activity, or losing the required session authorization or privacy configuration, stops that flight-only session. A stopped session does not restart automatically; you must start a new session after the required conditions are met.

Eligible evidence is kept in a private on-device buffer and may be uploaded securely when connectivity is available and current authorization is confirmed. Pilots may access only their own raw location points; administrators receive matching status without raw points, and clients and passengers cannot access these points.

Authorized workspace administrators may manually configure a cockpit-beacon identifier and its aircraft association for optional flight matching. FlightVor keeps this configuration and records of changes until an administrator changes or clears the configuration. Clearing it removes the active beacon identifier; a record that the configuration was cleared remains. Configuration records are separate from raw flight-matching evidence and do not use its seven-day expiry.

Optional Face ID unlocks an existing session; biometric data stays with iOS, and normal sign-in remains available.

SMS privacy

Where enabled, FlightVor sends transactional SMS about flight activity, scheduling and account services to eligible users who have opted in. Message frequency varies with the features used and flight activity, and message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for assistance.

Mobile information will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. SMS opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties except service providers supporting the messaging program.

We may provide the minimum information needed to vendors that help us deliver the service, such as communications, hosting, flight-data, security, and connected-logbook providers. Those providers may use it only to perform services for FlightVor or as required by law. Mobile information and SMS consent are not transferred to third parties for their own marketing or promotional use.

The mobile app includes service SDKs that may process service identifiers and diagnostics according to their configuration and providers’ privacy practices. This internal beta does not include Firebase Analytics or add advertising tracking.

Data retention and security

Unsent location points stop being eligible for upload seven days after their original capture. Uploaded location evidence becomes unavailable seven days after its original 24-hour matching window closes, or seven days after a match if that is earlier. Expired evidence is removed by scheduled cleanup. Uploading or retrying does not extend these limits. Consent and minimal matching records may be retained separately.

We retain information for as long as reasonably needed to provide the service, maintain operational and audit records, resolve disputes, and meet legal requirements. We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information, but no system can guarantee absolute security.

Your choices

You may update account information within FlightVor. You may withdraw SMS consent through FlightVor or by contacting support. Where messaging is enabled, you may also reply STOP to stop messages or HELP for assistance. Opting out will not prevent you from using non-SMS portions of FlightVor.

You can turn off optional phone-based flight matching in FlightVor or withdraw location permission in iPhone Settings. You can still review and claim flights manually without location access. An offline phone may not receive account changes immediately; collection and upload remain limited by their existing authorization expiry, and uploads require current authorization. Turning off this feature does not itself erase records already retained under the applicable retention rules.

You can stop a flight-only session without withdrawing your separate location permission. Stopping the session stops local collection; starting another session requires current authorization and does not extend the retention limits for earlier evidence.

Children and changes

FlightVor is not directed to children under 13. We may update this policy as the service evolves; the effective date above identifies the current version.

Contact

For privacy questions, data requests, help recovering access after a mobile-number change, or questions about the SMS program, email support@flightvor.com.