Contest Insurance Grumblings

On Apr 3, 1:53*pm, "noel.wade" wrote:
OK, just had to post: *Is anyone else here really annoyed at the SSA's
insurance requirement "changes" for this year?

I had an unpleasant experience with Costello when I bought my first
sailplane (2007). *I was very satisfied with my move to Avemco for the
last 4 years. *They've provided me with comparable rates & coverage,
flexible payment plans, and helpful, friendly staff. *Unfortunately,
they cannot comply with the revised/clarified requirements for soaring
contest liability insurance.

In fact, it seems that only one carrier out there words their policy
in a way that the SSA approves of: *Costello.

I know that Costello has a positive relationship with the SSA and
witnessed the nice check they handed over to the SSA at the Reno
convention. *But setting up a de-facto monopoly just rubs me the wrong
way... *Shouldn't private companies be competing to do business with
us, as a group of several-hundred customers (who are likely to have
good income and be a relatively low risk of defaulting on our
payments)?

The "disputed" issue is a little bit of extra coverage for bystanders
(or other pilots in a midair). *Does that actually help defuse any
ridiculous litigation or civil suits or financial penalties, in the
wake of an accident? *It certainly doesn't provide any special
indemnification for the SSA, so I highly doubt it has a practical
benefit in a legal/liability situation. *Seems to me that the primary
benefit of this insurance requirement is that it guarantees Costello a
certain volume of business each year.

Annoyed that I'm being forced to change carriers,

--Noel

I have had the opposite experience with Avemco. They would not cover
my experimental aircraft without a lot of additional cost, and "non-
owners" insurance and guest pilots were big adders as well. Much
better deal in my situation with Costello.

Matt