1. Introduction
Welcome to AirCargo911 ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our emergency air cargo services, visit our website, or interact with us through various channels.
By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.
2. Compliance with Laws
AirCargo911 complies with applicable data protection laws, including:
- Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) - South African data protection legislation
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - For European Union clients
- International data protection standards - As applicable to our global operations
3. Information We Collect
3.1 Personal Information You Provide
When you request emergency cargo services or contact us, we may collect:
- Contact Information: Full name, phone number, email address, company name, physical address
- Emergency Request Details: Cargo type, origin, destination, urgency level, weight, dimensions, and special handling requirements
- Payment Information: Billing address, payment card details (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
- Communication Records: Phone calls, emails, WhatsApp messages, and other communications with our emergency operations center
- Identity Verification: Government-issued ID, business registration documents (when required for customs or high-value cargo)
3.2 Information Automatically Collected
When you visit our website or use our services, we automatically collect:
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
- Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring websites
- Location Data: GPS coordinates or location derived from IP address (with your consent)
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Session cookies, analytics cookies, preference cookies
3.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information from:
- Airlines and cargo carriers we coordinate with
- Customs and border control agencies
- Payment processors and financial institutions
- Business partners and service providers
4. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
4.1 Emergency Cargo Services
- Processing and coordinating emergency cargo shipments
- Communicating with you about your emergency request
- Providing quotes, booking confirmations, and shipment tracking
- Coordinating with airlines, ground handlers, customs brokers, and delivery agents
- Handling special requirements (temperature control, hazardous materials, security)
4.2 Business Operations
- Processing payments and preventing fraud
- Maintaining customer accounts and service records
- Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
- Improving our services and developing new offerings
- Conducting market research and business analytics
4.3 Legal and Safety
- Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
- Enforcing our terms of service and other agreements
- Protecting against fraud, security threats, and illegal activities
- Responding to law enforcement requests and legal proceedings
4.4 Marketing and Communication
- Sending service updates, emergency alerts, and operational notifications
- Providing promotional offers and marketing materials (with your consent)
- Conducting surveys and requesting feedback
5. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information with the following parties:
5.1 Service Partners (Essential for Operations)
- Airlines and Cargo Carriers: To book and coordinate emergency shipments
- Ground Handlers and Freight Forwarders: For cargo pickup, handling, and delivery
- Customs Brokers: For international shipment clearance
- Insurance Providers: To provide cargo insurance coverage
- Tracking and Technology Providers: For real-time shipment monitoring
5.2 Business Service Providers
- Payment processors and financial institutions
- Cloud hosting and IT infrastructure providers
- Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
- Communication platforms (email, SMS, WhatsApp)
- Analytics and marketing service providers
5.3 Legal and Regulatory Authorities
- Government agencies (customs, aviation authorities, security agencies)
- Law enforcement when required by law or legal process
- Courts and legal representatives in case of disputes
5.4 Business Transfers
If AirCargo911 is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
6. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:
- Encryption: SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission, encrypted storage for sensitive data
- Access Controls: Role-based access, multi-factor authentication for employee accounts
- Network Security: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, regular security audits
- Employee Training: Regular data protection and security awareness training
- Incident Response: Documented procedures for data breach detection and response
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our services and maintain service records
- Comply with legal, regulatory, tax, and accounting obligations (typically 7 years for financial records)
- Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
- Maintain backup and disaster recovery systems (typically 90 days for backups)
After the retention period expires, we will securely delete or anonymize your personal information.
8. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
8.1 Access and Portability
- Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format
8.2 Correction and Update
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- Update your contact preferences and account information
8.3 Deletion ("Right to be Forgotten")
- Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
8.4 Restriction and Objection
- Restrict or object to certain processing of your personal information
- Opt-out of marketing communications at any time
8.5 Withdraw Consent
- Withdraw consent for data processing where consent was the legal basis
8.6 Lodge a Complaint
- File a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) or your local data protection authority
To exercise your rights, please contact us using the information in Section 13.
9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies:
Types of Cookies We Use:
- Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality (cannot be disabled)
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
- Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
- Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements (with your consent)
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.
10. International Data Transfers
As a global emergency cargo service, we may transfer your information to countries outside your jurisdiction. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place:
- Standard contractual clauses approved by regulatory authorities
- Adequacy decisions recognizing equivalent data protection standards
- Binding corporate rules for intra-group transfers
11. Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by:
- Posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
- Sending email notifications to registered users
- Displaying a prominent notice on our website
Your continued use of our services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us