Ultimate Issue: Staying Insured Encompasses Training, Loyalty, and Downsizing

Some guidance from those who approve the aircraft policies and pay the claims.

Friday, July 26, 2024 at 08:55 AM ET

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Before making a deal on any turbine aircraft, have a real talk with your insurance broker on the realities of getting the coverage you need, training requirements, and the ability to stay insured as you age. [Courtesy: Textron Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

To navigate a hardened aircraft insurance market, pilots should prioritize continuous, high-quality flight training, maintain long-term loyalty with their insurer, and consider downsizing to simpler aircraft, especially as they age or transition to complex types.
Insurers closely assess pilot age, experience in type, accident history, and aircraft characteristics (age, value, type), often requiring proof of upgrades and meticulous maintenance/training logs.
Specialized aircraft such as high-performance taildraggers, seaplanes, turbines, and complex experimentals pose significant insurance challenges, often being uninsurable or prohibitively expensive, particularly for older or inexperienced pilots.

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There are three key elements for surviving a hardened aircraft insurance market—training, loyalty, and downsizing.

It’s no secret that pilots of complex and high-end aircraft have been dealing with the trend of higher rates and even non renewed policies, especially older pilots and those with limited experience in type. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sunset your flying career once you reach 70—the point in life where underwriters consider you a “senior” pilot. Moreover, with a savvy approach, some compromises and hard training requirements, insurance can be available for younger and green pilots stepping into tailwheels and turbines.