Privacy Policy

Effective Date: March 19, 2026

SkyTracker ("we," "us," or "our") operates skytracker.ai and the SkyTracker hardware platform (collectively, the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect your email address, name, and (if applicable) a profile photo from a third-party sign-in provider (Google, Apple). We store a hashed version of your password if you sign up with email.

ADS-B Data

When your SkyTracker device is connected to the Platform, it transmits aircraft sighting data (ICAO hex codes, callsigns, aircraft types, altitudes, speeds, headings, and positions) along with your station's location. This data is derived from publicly broadcast ADS-B radio signals and does not contain personal information about aircraft passengers or crew.

Station Data

Your station's GPS coordinates and altitude are stored to enable features like distance calculations and the community map. You control whether your station appears publicly, is unlisted, or is private.

Payment Information

Payment processing is handled by Stripe and Apple. We do not store your credit card numbers. We retain your Stripe customer ID and subscription status to manage your account tier.

Usage Data

We collect standard server logs (IP addresses, request timestamps, user agents) to operate and secure the Service.

2. How We Use Your Information

Provide the Service: Display aircraft feeds, compute rarity scores, track lifers, and power the community map.
Improve the Platform: Aggregate and analyze ADS-B data across the network to improve AI models, rarity scoring, and airspace intelligence features.
Communicate: Send service-related emails (account verification, billing receipts, security alerts). We do not send marketing email without your consent.
Push Notifications: If you opt in, we send alerts for rare aircraft sightings and new lifers via push notifications. You can disable these at any time.
Security: Detect abuse, prevent fraud, and protect the integrity of the Service.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data in these limited situations:

Public Station Data: If you set your station to "public," your station name, location, and aircraft feed are visible on the community map.
Aggregated Data: We may share anonymized, aggregated ADS-B statistics (e.g., busiest airports, aircraft type distribution) for research or public interest.
Service Providers: We use third-party services (Stripe, Mapbox, Planespotters.net) to operate the Platform. These providers access only the data necessary to perform their functions.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of our users or the public.

4. Data Retention

Aircraft sighting data is retained based on your subscription tier: 30 days for Free accounts, 1 year for Pro, and unlimited for FBO. Account information is retained as long as your account is active. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time.

5. Your Rights & Choices

Access & Export: You can view your station data, lifers, and sighting history through the Platform.
Deletion: You can delete your account in Settings. This removes your profile and station configurations. Anonymized, aggregated sighting data may be retained.
Station Visibility: You can change your station's sharing preference (public, unlisted, private) at any time.
Notifications: You can manage push notification preferences in your account settings.
Cookies: The Platform uses essential cookies for authentication. We do not use third-party advertising trackers.

6. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect your data, including encrypted connections (TLS), hashed passwords, and secure API authentication. No system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will promptly delete it.

8. International Users

The Service is operated from the United States. If you access the Service from outside the US, your data may be transferred to and processed in the US. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or through the Platform. The "Effective Date" at the top reflects the latest revision.

10. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, contact us at hello@skytracker.ai.