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Aerflow Privacy Policy

Last updated: · Version 1.7 · Contact: [email protected] · Operator: Switchyard Studio

Aerflow is operated by Switchyard Studio (“we,” “us,” “our”). We respect your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect when you use the Aerflow mobile app and related services, how we use that information, and the choices available to you.

1. Introduction

(See opening paragraph above.)

2. Information We Collect

Account information. When you create an account, we collect information needed to identify and authenticate you, such as your sign-in identifier (for example, an email address or Apple ID token), display name, friend code, and subscription status.

Profile photos. If you add a profile picture, we store the image in our cloud storage so mutually accepted friends can see your avatar in the Friends tab. You can remove your photo at any time in Profile settings.

Home base airport. If you set a home base, we store the airport code on your profile. When Share home base with friends is on (the default), friends may use it to show overnight or at-base activity status. You can turn home-base sharing off in Profile settings.

Flights and schedule data. Aerflow stores flight and schedule entries you create manually. Your personal schedule is synced to your Aerflow account so it can restore across devices, and a local cache remains on your device for offline use. App preferences such as favorite airports, favorite airlines, and your preferred airline may also sync with your account. If you use friend sharing, we separately store sanitized schedule summaries and flight-status snapshots for friends you approve, as described in our Data Sharing Policy.

Flight status processing. When you are signed in and use live flight status, flight search, route weather track data, Live Activities, or friend/crew status features, Aerflow may send flight identifiers (such as flight number, airports, schedule times, and FlightAware flight IDs) to our servers. We use those identifiers to request status from FlightAware, store short-lived shared status results in our cloud cache, and optionally register FlightAware push alerts so updates can be delivered efficiently to you and authorized friends without each device contacting FlightAware separately.

Live Activities and push updates. If you use Live Activities (including Lock Screen and Dynamic Island flight tracking), we store ActivityKit push tokens and related flight context — such as flight number, airports, gates, schedule times, and activity phase — so we can deliver background updates when the app is not open. Registrations are removed when the Live Activity ends or you sign out.

Crew Lock Screen tracking. If you enable Crew tracking for a friend, or if a friend enables tracking for you, we store grant records (who enabled tracking, who opted in, and when) in our cloud service. Friends who follow you may also register push tokens on their own devices to receive crew-watch Live Activities, as described in our Data Sharing Policy.

Notifications. If you allow notifications, Aerflow may schedule local alerts on your device — for example, departure or check-in reminders for your flights, or prompts when a followed pilot is flying and crew-watch tracking is available.

Usage and diagnostics. We may collect basic technical information needed to operate the app, such as device type, app version, and error logs, to maintain reliability and fix issues.

What we do not collect. Aerflow does not collect airline roster passwords, crew portal credentials, union scheduling logins, or other employer authentication secrets.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve Aerflow and its features
  • Authenticate your account and manage subscriptions
  • Display your schedule, flight status, and weather within the app
  • Request, cache, and refresh flight status on our servers so signed-in users and authorized friends can receive updates efficiently
  • Enable friend sharing and display shared schedule information to friends you approve
  • Deliver Live Activities and background flight-status updates via Apple Push Notification service (APNs)
  • Operate Crew Lock Screen tracking when enabled by you and opted into by your friend
  • Schedule optional local notifications you authorize
  • Respond to support requests and communicate about the service
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service

We do not sell your personal information.

4. Third-Party Services

Aerflow relies on trusted third-party providers to operate. These may process limited data on our behalf:

  • Supabase — authentication, database hosting, profile photo storage, shared flight-status cache, and background workers for Live Activity and flight-status updates
  • RevenueCat — subscription and in-app purchase management
  • FlightAware — flight status and tracking data requested by Aerflow servers on your behalf when you are signed in (including Live Activity, friend/crew status, and related background updates). Your device does not hold our FlightAware API credentials for normal signed-in use
  • FAA Releasable Aircraft Database — offline U.S. N-number to aircraft make/model lookup used to display airframe type (no owner names or addresses are stored)
  • Apple Push Notification service (APNs) and ActivityKit — Live Activity and push delivery
  • Public aviation weather sources (NOAA/NWS, FAA NAS status) — METAR, TAF, PIREPs, radar, and airport delay information displayed in the app

Each provider has its own privacy practices. We share only what is necessary for Aerflow to function.

5. Sharing With Others

Friend schedule sharing is enabled by default for Aerflow accounts. When sharing is on, accepted friends can view the schedule fields and flight-status information you choose to share. Crew Lock Screen tracking is separate, opt-in, and controlled by both the pilot and the following friend. You can turn sharing off or limit visibility at any time in Friends → Sharing settings. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

We may disclose information if required by law, to protect rights and safety, or in connection with a merger or acquisition, subject to applicable law.

6. Data Retention

We retain account and schedule data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the service. Your private personal schedule and synced app preferences remain with your account until you delete them or delete your account. Shared schedule data and friend status snapshots are removed from our cloud when you disable sharing or delete your account. Short-lived flight-status cache entries are retained only as needed to serve current updates and then expire. Profile photos are removed when you delete your photo or your account. Live Activity push registrations are removed when the activity ends or you sign out. Crew tracking grants are removed when either party disables tracking. You may request deletion of your data by contacting us or using Delete account in Settings.

7. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete personal information we hold about you. You can:

  • Disable friend sharing or change visibility at any time in Friends → Sharing settings
  • Turn off Share home base with friends in Profile settings
  • Remove your profile photo in Profile settings
  • Disable Crew Lock Screen tracking for individual friends, or decline crew-watch opt-in prompts
  • Delete shared cloud data by turning sharing off or choosing Disable sharing
  • Delete your account in Settings → Account → Delete account
  • Revoke notification permission in iOS Settings
  • Email [email protected] to request access to or deletion of your account data

8. International Transfers

Aerflow is operated from the United States. Our service providers (including Supabase, RevenueCat, and FlightAware) may process data in the United States or other countries. Where required by law, we rely on appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers.

9. Children

Aerflow is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. Continued use of Aerflow after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Email [email protected]. Switchyard Studio operates Aerflow.