Interested in Light Sport Aircraft insurance? Wondering about Pilot or Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) insurance? Got questions about aircraft renter’s insurance, also known as non-owned aircraft insurance? Let’s answer your questions.
These days you can buy and immediately insure both special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) and experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA).
There is the basic liability insurance, which provides coverage for property and people in case of an accident, and there is hull insurance, which provides coverage for the aircraft if it is damaged.
Liability insurance is not too bad, but hull coverage is more expensive. You can have non motion coverage, which is damage when it is “not in motion”, and “in motion” which is when it is flying or moving on the ground which is more expensive.
If you are a private, commercial, or airplane transport pilot who wishes to fly as a sport pilot you can obtain insurance for an LSA. Even new student sport pilots and new sport pilots can obtain insurance.
Regardless of whether you need aircraft insurance for an aircraft you own or are planning to buy, you can make sure you have the right insurance at the best price. If you need insurance as a student sport pilot or if you are renting or borrowing an S-LSA or E-LSA, look for a Non-Owned Aircraft or Renters Insurance Plan.
What is aircraft renter's insurance, also know as non-owned aircraft insurance?
Non-owned or as it is more commonly called, renters’ insurance, is a liability policy that can provide bodily injury, property damage and aircraft hull protection for a pilot that is flying an aircraft they do not own.
‘Do not own’ is a key phrase. You do not have to own an aircraft to be found liable for damage or injuries. It is important to note that this is liability coverage ‘in addition’, it is not only for rental aircraft. A borrowed, rented or even a flying-club aircraft can put the pilot in a position of potential liability. Just think, non-owned. If you do not own an interest in the aircraft, this coverage could be for you.
Basically, liability means the coverage is used if the named insured is found liable for damage or injury to a third party. For example, if a person is flying an aircraft that has an engine failure or some other mechanical problem that is not the pilot’s fault and damages occur, non-owned insurance would not necessarily pay the claim.
Many people feel they do not need to buy insurance on their aircraft, and they can let their friends fly their aircraft if the friends have non-owned insurance and they are protected. Not true. If the pilot is not found liable, there is no coverage.
When a renter signs the rental agreement, they are agreeing to pay the owner for the damages. Usually that consists of paying the owners deductible. However, the FBO or the owner of the aircraft actually gives up their right to subrogation when they accept the claim. Once the claim is paid, the insurance company can go after the pilot or third party that was liable. That is the subrogation clause.
Owners can ask the underwriting company to offer a waiver of subrogation for the pilot, so this doesn’t happen, but most insurance companies, FBO’s and owners do not like to do that. It increases their cost and lowers their recovery options. Moreover, if they do pay, it costs more in premium.
Non-owned comes in two basic parts. Bodily injury and property damage (BIPD) liability and hull damage liability.
So how much should you buy? Like any insurance product, check with an estate and financial advisor (or lawyer) to figure out what level you need to buy. However, be careful, non-owned is very reasonable protection, but it can cost a lot of money per year. Buying non-owned insurance often costs as much as an aircraft owner pays for owned insurance.
You have to buy BIPD as a minimum. Most buyers that have any level of assets (a home, car, etc.) usually opt for at least a million dollars, usually with a $100,000 per passenger sublimit. This coverage is quite reasonably priced.
The high cost comes in the hull protection. One option is to buy enough to cover the total loss of the aircraft that you are flying. Another option is to buy enough to cover at least half the value. The reasoning is that there will probably be some salvage value.
If you rent, borrow or belong to a flying club, it is worth looking into non-owned insurance.