Survey: Older Pilots See Discrimination from Insurers

Pilots older than 70 are being dropped or canceled from insurance agencies without losses.

Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 12:55 PM ET

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AOPA has reported that older pilots have more total hours, fly more frequently, and are more likely to stay proficient. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft insurance companies are unfairly raising premiums or denying coverage to pilots over 70, regardless of their safety records or flight experience.
An AOPA survey contradicts these age-based assumptions, revealing older pilots fly more frequently and are no more prone to accidents than younger pilots.
The survey also found that pilots over 70 often demonstrate higher proficiency, possessing more instrument ratings and advanced pilot certificates.
These discriminatory practices persist despite the general aviation industry achieving its safest year ever, indicating age-based bias rather than actual safety concerns.

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Older pilots who may be safe, current, and just as capable as younger pilots are being treated differently by aircraft insurance companies—sometimes facing premium hikes or losing coverage altogether—according to a new survey by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

The survey of more than 30,000 pilots and aircraft owners across the country was triggered by reports that pilots over the age of 70 are being dropped or canceled from their insurers even if they haven’t had a loss.