Privacy Policy

PlaneKeeper is designed to let you keep a private record of aircraft sightings. This Privacy Policy explains what information the app stores, when it communicates with third-party services, and the choices available to you.

1. Information You Create in PlaneKeeper

PlaneKeeper stores the information you choose to add to the app, such as aircraft, airline, airport, flight, date, notes, imported CSV data, and app preferences. If you choose photos for a sighting, PlaneKeeper stores copies of those photos in the app’s local storage on your device.

PlaneKeeper does not require an account, and we do not operate a PlaneKeeper server that collects your sighting records. We do not sell your information or use it for advertising or cross-app tracking.

2. Storage and iCloud Sync

Your sighting records are stored locally on your device. By default, the **Sync Sightings with iCloud** setting is enabled. When it is enabled, PlaneKeeper uses Apple CloudKit to sync your sighting records and relevant app data across devices signed in to your iCloud account. You can disable this in **Settings > iCloud**; the app must be reopened for the change to take effect.

CloudKit is provided by Apple. Apple processes iCloud data under its own privacy terms and security controls. We do not have access to your Apple Account credentials. Learn more in [Apple’s CloudKit privacy information](https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/).

Photos selected in PlaneKeeper are stored in the app’s local Documents storage. PlaneKeeper does not upload the original photo files to a PlaneKeeper-operated server. The app may sync a sighting’s photo reference as part of its sighting record, but the original photo files are not used as a CloudKit attachment by the app.

3. Third-Party Data Services

PlaneKeeper contacts the following services only when their related features are used:

- Apple Maps - to display airport maps and find an airport location when runway coordinates are unavailable. Search terms can include airport name, city, and country.

- ADSB.lol - to look up aircraft-position and route information. Requests can include an aircraft registration and flight data needed for the lookup.

- ADSBDB - to look up a flight route using a callsign.

- Aviation Weather Center - to retrieve airport weather observations (METAR) using an airport’s ICAO identifier.

- OurAirports data - to retrieve runway information.

- Aircraft type data source hosted by ENS Paris-Saclay - to retrieve aircraft-type reference data.

When PlaneKeeper contacts these services, they may receive the request information described above and technical information that normally accompanies an internet request, such as your IP address, device/browser characteristics, and request time. Their handling of that information is governed by their own privacy policies and terms. PlaneKeeper does not send your notes or selected photos to these services as part of these lookups.

Apple Maps has its own privacy practices; see [Apple Maps & Privacy](https://www.apple.com/uk/legal/privacy/data/en/apple-maps/).

4. Permissions

PlaneKeeper does **not** request access to your device’s precise location.

If you choose to add a photo, iOS’s photo picker lets you select the specific photos you want to provide to the app. The app uses those selected photos only to attach them to your sightings. You can also import content through the system share sheet when you explicitly choose PlaneKeeper as the destination.

5. Sharing

PlaneKeeper does not automatically publish your sightings. If you use an iOS sharing feature, the information you choose to share is sent to the destination you select, subject to that destination’s privacy policy.

6. Retention and Deletion

Sighting records remain on your device, and in iCloud when sync is enabled, until you delete them or remove the app. You can delete selected sightings or all sightings from **Settings > Your Data**. Deleted synced records may take time to propagate to your other devices through iCloud.

At present, deleting a sighting removes its record but may leave its previously saved photo file in the app’s local storage. Removing the app removes its local app storage, subject to iOS and any device backup settings.

7. Children’s Privacy

PlaneKeeper is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. International Users

If you use iCloud or the third-party data services listed above, those providers may process information in countries other than your own. Their terms and privacy policies describe those transfers and safeguards.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when PlaneKeeper’s features or data practices change. We will update the effective date when we do.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: planekeeper@clemensoberschmied.com