Organizers of the annual Sun ‘n Fun fly-in in Lakeland, Florida, say they have paid a substantial outstanding balance relating to last year’s tornado, which tore through the show grounds and damaged dozens of airplanes. The organization had been seeking to recoup cleanup costs from aircraft owners’ insurance companies with limited success. In a memo on the Sun ‘n Fun website, event president and CEO John “Lites” Leenhouts said the remaining unrecovered balance has now been paid in full.
“Following the devastating storm during the 2011 Fly-In event, nearly 30 aircraft were damaged to the point where removal of aircraft and hazmat cleanup were necessary in order to maintain a safe environment for all guests, exhibitors, vendors and volunteer staff,” Leenhouts wrote in the memo. “Sun ‘n Fun requested that aircraft owners submit their towing and cleanup costs associated with their aircraft to their insurance companies for consideration of payment. Approximately 40 percent of the total bill (as of March 1, 2012) has been recovered from these insurance companies, leaving Sun ‘n Fun with a substantial balance. Sun ‘n Fun has paid this remaining balance in good faith on behalf of those who chose not to submit the bill to their insurance company or who did not carry insurance.”
