insurance for Sport Pilots!

[Cub Driver]

I always figured that the test on the new Sport Pilot rules would be
how the new category would be treated by insurance companies. After
all, if I can't get insurance, I can't rent the Cub! Here's the
answer, which also indirectly addresses the question of how much
safety we're giving up by allowing very-lightplane pilots to fly
without an aeromedical exam, from the Aero-News Propwash email letter
this morning:

Avemco Ready for Sport Pilots

Avemco Insurance
Company, the only direct writer of aviation insurance in the US,
has announced that it is now able to insure Sport Pilots flying in
Standard Certificated and Experimental Amateur Built Aircraft that
meet the definition of Light Sport Aircraft.

"Aviators flying under Sport Pilot privileges can enjoy the same
level of service experienced by all Avemco customers. Avemco
anticipates it will also insure both the Special LSA and
Experimental LSA airplanes as they become available to Sport
Pilots," said Jim Lauerman, Executive Vice President and Chief
Underwriting Officer.

In addition,
Avemco's popular non-owner policies will be available to
Sport Pilots. "We will have an endorsement to permit
non-owner coverage for the Special and Experimental Light Sport
Aircraft as well," Lauerman added.

Although Sport Pilots can fly with reduced medical examination
requirements and fewer hours of instruction than Recreational or
Private Pilots, Avemco notes that Sport Pilots also have
restrictions regarding aircraft weight, speed, seating capacity,
and certain operating limits that other pilots do not face.

"Our experience indicates that these factors should
balance out." said Lauerman.

He is optimistic that the small differences he anticipates in
the early years of LSA coverage will diminish as data are
collected, so that eventually there will be little difference for
the pilot who obtains LSA insurance. Right now, he stressed, Avemco
is prepared to insure pilots who will be joining today's
pilot ranks as a result of the new Sport Pilot movement. Avemco
Insurance Company, the leading pleasure and business general
aviation insurer in the United States, has been insuring planes and
pilots since 1961.
FMI: www.avemco.com, http://www.faa.gov/AVR/afs/sportpilot/faq.doc

For the WHOLE story, go to
http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=37a32a02-dea1-430c-86ba-404e0bcfcce8

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Expedition sailboat charters www.expeditionsail.com

[Ash Wyllie]

Cub Driver opined

>I always figured that the test on the new Sport Pilot rules would be
>how the new category would be treated by insurance companies. After
>all, if I can't get insurance, I can't rent the Cub! Here's the
>answer, which also indirectly addresses the question of how much
>safety we're giving up by allowing very-lightplane pilots to fly
>without an aeromedical exam, from the Aero-News Propwash email letter
>this morning:

>Avemco Ready for Sport Pilots

>Avemco Insurance
>Company, the only direct writer of aviation insurance in the US,
>has announced that it is now able to insure Sport Pilots flying in
>Standard Certificated and Experimental Amateur Built Aircraft that
>meet the definition of Light Sport Aircraft.

>"Aviators flying under Sport Pilot privileges can enjoy the same
>level of service experienced by all Avemco customers. Avemco
>anticipates it will also insure both the Special LSA and
>Experimental LSA airplanes as they become available to Sport
>Pilots," said Jim Lauerman, Executive Vice President and Chief
>Underwriting Officer.

>In addition,
>Avemco's popular non-owner policies will be available to
>Sport Pilots. "We will have an endorsement to permit
>non-owner coverage for the Special and Experimental Light Sport
>Aircraft as well," Lauerman added.

>Although Sport Pilots can fly with reduced medical examination
>requirements and fewer hours of instruction than Recreational or
>Private Pilots, Avemco notes that Sport Pilots also have
>restrictions regarding aircraft weight, speed, seating capacity,
>and certain operating limits that other pilots do not face.

>"Our experience indicates that these factors should
>balance out." said Lauerman.

>He is optimistic that the small differences he anticipates in
>the early years of LSA coverage will diminish as data are
>collected, so that eventually there will be little difference for
>the pilot who obtains LSA insurance. Right now, he stressed, Avemco
>is prepared to insure pilots who will be joining today's
>pilot ranks as a result of the new Sport Pilot movement. Avemco
>Insurance Company, the leading pleasure and business general
>aviation insurer in the United States, has been insuring planes and
>pilots since 1961.
>FMI: www.avemco.com, http://www.faa.gov/AVR/afs/sportpilot/faq.doc

>For the WHOLE story, go to
>http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=37a32a02-dea1-430c-86b
>a-404e0bcfcce8

From Avweb

>>...BUT CAN YOU AFFORD IT?...
>>Gregory Sterling, general manager at AOPA Insurance Agency, told AVweb
>>yesterday that most Sport Pilots will be able to obtain coverage on
>>Light Sport Aircraft through his agency, as well. "Most underwriters
>>have indicated that they will offer limits up to $1 million, limited
>>to $100,000 per passenger on liability, and hull values commensurate
>>with the current market value of the aircraft," he wrote in an e-mail.
>>"As the underwriters have not yet seen many of these come through yet,
>>we don't have much specific information on rates." Mackey, at Falcon,
>>said he would hazard a guess that to insure a $50,000 Light Sport
>>Aircraft would cost $2800 to $3400 a year, for hull coverage and
>>liability, but there are many factors that could affect that bottom
>>line -- such as the pilot's experience, the type of aircraft and the
>>airport where it is based.
>>http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/286-full.html#188091

which is a lot more than I am paying on my 172 right now. Something odd ois
happening here.


-ash
Cthulhu for President!
Why vote for a lesser evil?

[G.R. Patterson III]

Ash Wyllie wrote:
>
> >>...BUT CAN YOU AFFORD IT?...
> >>Gregory Sterling, general manager at AOPA Insurance Agency, told AVweb
> >>yesterday that most Sport Pilots will be able to obtain coverage on
> >>Light Sport Aircraft through his agency, as well. "Most underwriters
> >>have indicated that they will offer limits up to $1 million, limited
> >>to $100,000 per passenger on liability, and hull values commensurate
> >>with the current market value of the aircraft," he wrote in an e-mail.
> >>"As the underwriters have not yet seen many of these come through yet,
> >>we don't have much specific information on rates." Mackey, at Falcon,
> >>said he would hazard a guess that to insure a $50,000 Light Sport
> >>Aircraft would cost $2800 to $3400 a year, for hull coverage and
> >>liability, but there are many factors that could affect that bottom
> >>line -- such as the pilot's experience, the type of aircraft and the
> >>airport where it is based.
> >>http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/286-full.html#188091
>
> which is a lot more than I am paying on my 172 right now. Something odd ois
> happening here.

Agreed. I have a taildragger insured at $60,000 hull, one mill with 100k/passenger
limits. In other words, the same policy described here with higher hull values. My
last insurance bill was $1,800.

George Patterson
If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
he gives it to.

[Dave Stadt]

"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Ash Wyllie wrote:
> >
> > >>...BUT CAN YOU AFFORD IT?...
> > >>Gregory Sterling, general manager at AOPA Insurance Agency, told AVweb
> > >>yesterday that most Sport Pilots will be able to obtain coverage on
> > >>Light Sport Aircraft through his agency, as well. "Most underwriters
> > >>have indicated that they will offer limits up to $1 million, limited
> > >>to $100,000 per passenger on liability, and hull values commensurate
> > >>with the current market value of the aircraft," he wrote in an e-mail.
> > >>"As the underwriters have not yet seen many of these come through yet,
> > >>we don't have much specific information on rates." Mackey, at Falcon,
> > >>said he would hazard a guess that to insure a $50,000 Light Sport
> > >>Aircraft would cost $2800 to $3400 a year, for hull coverage and
> > >>liability, but there are many factors that could affect that bottom
> > >>line -- such as the pilot's experience, the type of aircraft and the
> > >>airport where it is based.
> > >>http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/286-full.html#188091
> >
> > which is a lot more than I am paying on my 172 right now. Something odd
ois
> > happening here.
>
> Agreed. I have a taildragger insured at $60,000 hull, one mill with
100k/passenger
> limits. In other words, the same policy described here with higher hull
values. My
> last insurance bill was $1,800.
>
> George Patterson
> If you want to know God's opinion of money, just look at the people
> he gives it to.

My taildragger is insured for $30K and I am paying $780 a year. The numbers
quoted for SA are many times that. I can't see many people paying $2800 to
$3400 a year for a slow two place airplane. You could take the insurance
savings, get a private, buy a decent 172 for the $50K and still come out
ahead.

[Dave Stadt]

"Todd Pattist" > wrote in message
...
> "Dave Stadt" > wrote:
>
> >My taildragger is insured for $30K and I am paying $780 a year.
>
> Who are you with?

AUA through EAAs Vintage Aircraft Association. My rates have stayed the
same or dropped for the past many years. Guess they never saw me fly. :-)

>
> Todd Pattist
> (Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
> ___
> Make a commitment to learn something from every flight.
> Share what you learn.