Commercial Glider Operations Insurance Increases?

A commercial glider operation I am familiar with, but don't fly out of, is suspending operations for 2019 because;

"... due to commercial operation insurance increase. There were some fatalities last year and they increased premiums 400% or so. They said they might form a club but nothing this year."

There have been no glider fatalities, or even incidents, at this gliderport for as long as I have known it so I assume that the fatality reference is about the overall fatality rate at all gliderports, commercial or otherwise..

Anyone else seen this insurance increase happening? Has there been an increase in fatalities at commercial gliderports as compared to non-commercial?

It would not be welcome news if there is a trend towards fewer gliderports due to insurance.

- John OHM Ω

PS - This gliderport is looking into starting a new glider club at that airport so that a less expensive insurance through the SSA can be purchased.

Not surprised. If anything, I'm surprised that we are able to still get affordable (depending on your definition) insurance for our sport. My team was supporting operations for a major aviation carrier for many years, and among other things we supported the loss reporting application. The combined ratios were ... eye opening. Typically, the Underwriting team develops rating by class codes, and being a relatively small risk pool, it only takes a couple of incidents to blow the rating scheme out of the water. Assuming that glider FBOs that offer rides and instruction are all in the same class, IIRC last year, there was a 2-32 accident which claimed 3 lives and the L-23 accident which claimed 2. That's a couple of million in losses right off the bat (not to mention untold pain for the families). Let's say there were 50 glider FBOs each paying $20K in premiums last year... you get the picture.

Erik Mann (P3)

What commercial gliding operation is suspending operations for 2019?