Support

We respond to every support email within 4 hours during business days (Pacific Time).

FAQ

How does Tail ID identify aircraft?

It uses AI vision (OpenAI's gpt-4o model) to read the tail number, recognize the aircraft type, and cross-reference against a registry of millions of public aircraft records. Even if the tail number is small or angled, the visual model can usually piece it together from context.

Do I need an account?

No — you can identify aircraft without signing in. Sign-in only unlocks the personal logbook and achievement features.

Why does it want my location?

Location is optional. If granted, we use it to identify the nearest airport and bias identification toward aircraft known to be active in that area — this improves accuracy on partial readings. Precise GPS is discarded after the airport lookup; we never store coordinates more precise than airport level.

Where does my photo go?

Your photo is sent to our identification backend (hosted in Germany on Hetzner), which forwards it to OpenAI's vision API for identification. Per OpenAI's API terms, photos are not used to train their models. If you save the capture to your logbook, it's stored on our object storage and served via media.tailvideos.com.

How do I delete my account?

In the app: Settings → Account → Delete account. Or email support@tailid.app and we'll process the deletion within 30 days.

Why is the app only in English / my language is wrong?

Tail ID supports 20 languages and auto-detects from your phone's preferred language list. If a wrong language is picked, check your device's language settings. If your language is missing, email us and we'll add it.

The aircraft was identified incorrectly. What now?

Tap "Type a registration" on the camera screen and enter the correct tail number, or tap one of the candidate matches if the AI offered alternatives. We use these corrections to improve the model.

Is there a Pro / paid tier?

Not yet. The app is free and ad-free.

Reporting bugs

Email support@tailid.app with:

Phone model + OS version
App version (Settings → About)
A screenshot or screen recording of the issue
What you were doing when it happened

We typically reply with a fix or workaround within one business day.