Water Landing Directory
Privacy Policy
Updated September 9, 2026
The Water Landing Directory app is operated by the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA). This policy explains what information the app handles, why it is used, and the choices available to you.
Account and Service Information
If you create or manage an account, SPA may receive information you provide, such as your name, email address, phone number, username or account identifier, SPA membership number and status, and authentication information. This information is used to register and authenticate your account, manage your profile and membership access, recover access, and secure the service. If you choose Remember Me, the app stores your sign-in credentials in the iOS Keychain.
Community Contributions
Reviews, ratings, listing submissions or corrections, photos, and contact or attribution details you choose to submit are sent to SPA for moderation and operation of the directory. These contributions are associated with your account while they are reviewed. For photo uploads, SPA records your acceptance of the Photo Contribution Terms, including the terms version and server acceptance time. Content reports and blocked-contributor preferences are associated with your account for moderation and filtering; reports are visible to authorized SPA staff. Approved contributions, including an author or attribution name where applicable, may be visible to other users. Please submit another person's information only when you have permission to do so.
Location and On-Device Data
With your permission, precise location is used on your device to position the map, calculate distances, and show nearby landing sites. Your device's live precise-location reading is not sent to SPA's APIs and is not used for sponsor selection. If you enable push notifications, the app may derive a state-level topic from your location and send that coarse topic to Firebase for regional alerts. SPA does not associate that topic with your app account. Favorites, app preferences, recent interface state, and downloaded directory data are stored on your device. An exported file leaves the app only when you choose where to share or save it.
Push Notifications
Push notifications are optional and off until you enable them and grant system permission. The app uses Firebase Cloud Messaging, a Google service provider, which processes an app-instance messaging token and topic subscriptions to deliver notifications. The app does not send that token to SPA's account API or attach it to your SPA app account. Turning notifications off or signing out instructs the app to unsubscribe and delete its Firebase messaging registration.
Sponsored Content
To select a sponsor banner, the app sends SPA's sponsor service only an access marker and the general app screen or placement being viewed. The request does not include your sign-in token, name, email, account identifier, search text, or location. The app does not use sponsor data to track you across other companies' apps or websites. If you open a sponsor link, you leave the app and the sponsor's own privacy practices apply.
How Information Is Used and Shared
SPA uses information to operate, secure, support, and improve the directory; authenticate members; moderate contributions; send a newsletter only when requested; and comply with legal obligations. Information may be processed by SPA and service providers needed to run the service, including hosting providers and Firebase for optional push delivery. SPA does not sell personal information, and the app does not use personal information for tracking across other companies' apps or websites. Information may also be disclosed when required by law or when reasonably necessary to protect users, SPA, or the service.
Security, Retention, and Your Choices
Backend requests containing account or community information use HTTPS, and remembered credentials are kept in the iOS Keychain. No transmission or storage method can be guaranteed completely secure. SPA retains information as reasonably needed to provide and protect the service, moderate directory content, and meet legal obligations. You can edit supported profile fields, leave notifications off, sign out, or request account deactivation or deletion in Settings. Some approved directory contributions, security records, or backup copies may be retained when needed for directory integrity, fraud prevention, or legal compliance.
Contact
Questions or privacy requests can be sent to SPA at spa@seaplanes.org.