OMG, Insurance!

The market closes in on an aviator deemed too old.

Dick Karl

Monday, May 15, 2023 at 01:06 PM ET

Verified

[Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

An experienced pilot, despite extensive flight hours, recent certifications, and a clean record, is now effectively prevented from single-pilot operations of his jet by insurance companies who deem him "too old."
The cost of single-pilot insurance has become prohibitively expensive, now quoted at nearly $100,000 annually, making solo flying financially unfeasible for the author.
The author finds no evidence of increased risk for experienced older pilots and attributes these new, restrictive underwriting criteria to broader industry events like the Boeing 737 Max accidents and global conflicts.
This change profoundly impacts the pilot's lifestyle by removing the freedom of spontaneous solo flight, leading to deep sadness and considerations of downgrading his aircraft.

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Yesterday I flew our Cessna Citation CJ1 single pilot from Austin, Texas, to Tampa, Florida. The weather was good at both ends, but a cold front with thunderstorms reaching upwards of 45,000 feet into the sky lay in wait across the route. At FL 390 only a minor deviation was required and our flight time was only a few minutes more than forecast. We were home safe by 3 p.m.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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