Settings
Points & scoringBonus switch, points list and streaks
How to earn more points
Photo bonus points (Recommended)
Extra points for picture quality, a readable registration, cockpit views and DSLR photos. Keep it on to score more points and climb the leaderboard quicker.
Please note: leaving this on requires photo verification, so catches may take a few seconds longer to verify.
On — bonus rules active for new catches. Existing scores stay unchanged.
These bonuses are added to new catches while the "Photo bonus points" switch above is on. Existing scores stay unchanged.
- Clear, sharp aircraft picture — no blurring
- +20
- Close-up aircraft detail
- +20
- Registration / tail number readable (e.g. G-XLEA) — auto-detected based on the quality of the picture
- +25
- Clear cockpit or pilot in flight — inside, banking or above-aircraft view
- +40
- DSLR camera used — photo file must match your linked camera (make, model, serial) and be shot today
- +25
- Phone photos — must be your own; web images, screenshots and other members' photos are refused
- Required
- Identify the aircraft yourself
- +25
- Airshow catch: static aircraft points
- +15
- Airshow appearance — applied to each airshow picture (date/location verified)
- +25
- Live camera — Active Spotting picture the app recognises
- +50
- Live camera — too distant for auto detection, identified by matching it on the flight map
- +25
- Live map photo match — photo location to aircraft position at live matching, within 3 miles
- +50
- Live map photo match within 10 miles
- +25
- Live map photo match within 20 miles
- +10
- Live map photo match beyond 20 miles
- 0
- Rare birds pay their bonus points once — the same rare bird on another day scores standard points
- Once
Live map photo bonus
Match your own new live-camera photo to the same aircraft on the live flight map. The bonus uses the ground distance from where the photo was taken to the aircraft’s reported position when the live match is made during capture/upload — not its old flight path or its position when you later review the photo. +50 within 3 miles, +25 within 10 miles, +10 within 20 miles; 0 beyond 20 miles. Only one distance tier applies, after the photo passes checking and is saved.
This history records previous matches; opening it earns no new points. Imported sightings, old photos and Tail Log location/country maps do not qualify for a live map bonus.
Photo GPS is used first; if unavailable, your device location or selected map centre is used. Aircraft positions can be delayed. Older matches without a checked distance may show the earlier +25 fallback.
Daily spotting streak
Spot on consecutive days: day 2 +10, day 3 +20, up to +50 from day 6. One scoring photo per aircraft per UK day — one photo per upload, and you can swap which one scores in the Hangar until midnight. First catch per UTC day counts for the streak; miss a day and restart. Streak points are added after multipliers.
Photo bonus points are currently semi-automated — other bonus points may require the member to select them if they are not detected. Automation verification checking will improve and random checks will be carried out. If incorrect bonus points have been selected, points will be deducted. Stay in permitted areas; never distract a pilot or compromise safety for a shot.
Cameras & phonesLinked devices for the DSLR bonus
My camera & phone
To link a device, pick any original photo it took. The app reads its make, model and serial number from the photo file. DSLR +25 is only added for photos from your linked camera shot today (UK time). Phones rarely store a serial number, so only the model is saved for them.
Authenticity rules: photos must be your own originals with their camera details intact. Live camera shots prove the photo was taken in person. Web images, screenshots, edited copies and other members' photos are refused. One photo per upload.
Current camera
Not linked yet
Current phone
Not linked yet
Older devices are kept permanently so your earlier catches stay valid.
Family & groupsFamily circle and spotting groups
Single & family mode
Your own catches and points. Family sharing is paused.
Family & group notifications
Hear when your family or group members log a catch. Live Catch sightings always notify; Sticker Book catches only notify if you switch them on below. Turn off “Every catch” if it's too much and choose summaries of catches, points and group position instead — mix any you like.
Sign in to choose your notifications.
Member groups
Make a group for your club or friends, invite people, and compare scores on the Group leaderboard. You can be in more than one group.
Checking account…
Flight mapHome airport, area, refresh and alerts
Home base airport
LHR
LHR
Worldwide airport directory · OurAirports
Flight map area
No home saved yet — "Set home" keeps this place for later.
Map refresh rate
15 seconds is quickest so you don't miss a plane; 60 seconds saves mobile data.
Satellite map
Satellite imagery instead of the standard map.
Show airports
Airport and airbase pins and names.
Rarest near you
The three rarest aircraft flying in your area, on Home and the Flight map.
Hunt-list alerts
Chime and banner when a hunt-list aircraft flies in your area (while the app is open).
Spotter cards & aircraftWatermark, copyright and encyclopaedia
No watermark on spotter cards
Solo and Family members can share cards without the Catch My Craft mark.
Photo copyright
Adds your own © credit to every spotter card you save or share from the Hangar. Leave blank for none.
Aircraft encyclopaedia
Every aircraft type by type or manufacturer, A to Z.
Passport notifications remindersHoliday countdown alerts from My Passport
Holiday countdown reminders
App & deviceMenu order, permissions, battery and kids mode
Test cards
Fill both Hangars with sample cards for testing. They never score points and your real cards stay untouched.
Referral banner
Show the "Earn free membership" strap at the top of the screen.
Camera & photo access
Camera: Unknown. Photos are picked by you each time you upload, so no library access is needed.
Battery saver
Turns off heavy live features and uses a simple list instead.
Family sandbox
In Kids mode: hides global leaderboards and maps, family circle only.
Help & supportFAQ, get in touch, share and rate
Help & FAQ
Why was my aircraft not showing on the map?
- Transponder off or military-only: military jets often switch off civil ADS-B or use encrypted military modes that public receivers cannot read. No public app can show them then.
- No GPS position: some aircraft send only a basic signal without position. These need several ground receivers to work out where they are, which often fails in quiet areas.
- Flying low: helicopters, fast jets and light aircraft below hills or under about 1,500 ft can drop out of range of ground receivers.
- Older or small aircraft: many vintage warbirds, gliders and light aircraft carry no ADS-B at all.
- Few receivers nearby: coverage relies on volunteer antennas, so remote hills and open sea have gaps. Positions can also be a few seconds to a minute late.
- You can still score it: snap it with Live Catch or upload it. If the app cannot identify a distant shot it waits in your Unmatched folder for you to name.
Are military aircraft shown?
- Yes, whenever they broadcast. Our map uses an open community feed that does not hide military aircraft, unlike some commercial apps. When pilots switch transponders off, nothing can track them — listen on the Radio page for military frequencies and check local spotter groups for movements.
How often does the map refresh?
- Every 15 seconds by default (change it in Settings → Map refresh rate). The countdown on the map shows the next refresh, and the aircraft card shows how fresh its last position is. Tap refresh to update straight away.
What is the difference between Log sighting and Snap & score?
- Log sighting ticks the aircraft in your Tail Log with no points. Historical and imported sightings never score. Snap & score opens the camera so a verified photo can earn points; Live map match history records those photo matches separately.
How does the live map photo bonus work?
- Match your own new live-camera photo to the same aircraft on the live flight map. The bonus uses the ground distance from where the photo was taken to the aircraft’s reported position when the live match is made during capture/upload — not its old flight path or its position when you later review the photo. +50 within 3 miles, +25 within 10 miles, +10 within 20 miles; 0 beyond 20 miles. Only one distance tier applies, after the photo passes checking and is saved.
- This history records previous matches; opening it earns no new points. Imported sightings, old photos and Tail Log location/country maps do not qualify for a live map bonus.
- Photo GPS is used first; if unavailable, your device location or selected map centre is used. Aircraft positions can be delayed. Older matches without a checked distance may show the earlier +25 fallback.
My photo was not recognised — what now?
- It is kept in the Unmatched folder on the Catch page. Name it yourself, or match your new live-camera photo to the same aircraft on the live flight map for a distance-based bonus of up to +50. Review and save the checked photo before it scores.
Where do deleted photos go?
- To Settings → Recycle bin for 30 days, where you can restore them.
Get in touch
Having an issue? Tell us by voice, text, photo or video.
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Send Catch My Craft to friends through Messages, WhatsApp, email or social apps.
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My official logbook
Your callsign, photo and rank credentials.
Data credits
Where Catch My Craft's information comes from:
- Live aircraft positions
- adsb.lol (ADS-B Exchange community feed), with OpenSky Network as backup
- Flight routes & aircraft registrations
- adsbdb.com
- Aircraft photos on the flight map
- planespotters.net photographers (credited on each photo)
- Aircraft reference photos
- Wikimedia Commons (free licensed images)
- Aircraft type directory
- ICAO aircraft type designators (open CC0 directory)
- Maps
- OpenStreetMap contributors, via Leaflet
- Town & postcode search
- Photon by Komoot (OpenStreetMap data)
- Album & song covers
- Apple iTunes Search
- Film posters
- Wikipedia
- Photo checks & spoken quotes
- Lovable AI
Membership & accountPlans, billing, sign out and delete
Membership & Plans
3 days free, then Solo £2.99/month or £23.99/year, or Family Pass (4 spotters) £4.99/month or £34.99/year.