Ultralight sailplane aerotow liability

We recently had a pilot show up and ask if we would aerotow him in his
Sparrow Hawk. Our first question was to ask if the glider was
licensed. His reply was that it was not required to be licensed. Our
second question was if he had insurance on the glider. He replied by
asking if insurance was a requirement for being towed. Our reply was
that if the glider is not insured, that we would be accepting
liability. We also said that we would need to check with our
insurance carrier, to see if our policy would even cover us while
towing an ultralight sailplane. We directed the pilot to resources to
pursue an airworthiness certificate for the glider.

This pilot has, in the meantime, found another FBO who was willing to
tow him.

We have now received the following reply from our insurance carrier,
SSA's group plan with Costello. This plan does not cover towplanes
while towing ultralights. If the light sailplane has FAA
airworthiness (Experimental), towing it would be covered by Costello.
If the light sailplane has FAA airworthiness (Experimental), it can be
insured by Costello for hull and liability.
If the light sailplane has no FAA airworthiness certificate, Costello
offers no hull/liability coverage. There may be other insurance
sources.


Operators should check their individual coverage, if they are with a
different insurance carrier, and are concerned about their liability.
Towpilots should understand they may be towing without coverage.

M Eiler

thanx Marty... we've filed it on our records.

BT
LVVSA

"Caracole" wrote in message
om...
We recently had a pilot show up and ask if we would aerotow him in his
Sparrow Hawk. Our first question was to ask if the glider was
licensed. His reply was that it was not required to be licensed. Our
second question was if he had insurance on the glider. He replied by
asking if insurance was a requirement for being towed. Our reply was
that if the glider is not insured, that we would be accepting
liability. We also said that we would need to check with our
insurance carrier, to see if our policy would even cover us while
towing an ultralight sailplane. We directed the pilot to resources to
pursue an airworthiness certificate for the glider.

This pilot has, in the meantime, found another FBO who was willing to
tow him.

We have now received the following reply from our insurance carrier,
SSA's group plan with Costello. This plan does not cover towplanes
while towing ultralights. If the light sailplane has FAA
airworthiness (Experimental), towing it would be covered by Costello.
If the light sailplane has FAA airworthiness (Experimental), it can be
insured by Costello for hull and liability.
If the light sailplane has no FAA airworthiness certificate, Costello
offers no hull/liability coverage. There may be other insurance
sources.


Operators should check their individual coverage, if they are with a
different insurance carrier, and are concerned about their liability.
Towpilots should understand they may be towing without coverage.

M Eiler

Caracole wrote:

We recently had a pilot show up and ask if we would aerotow him in his
Sparrow Hawk. Our first question was to ask if the glider was
licensed.

My first question would be, is the pilot competent, current and licenced
to fly.

But then I don't live in the USA...


Ian

Ian Forbes wrote:
Caracole wrote:


We recently had a pilot show up and ask if we would aerotow him in his
Sparrow Hawk. Our first question was to ask if the glider was
licensed.


My first question would be, is the pilot competent, current and licenced
to fly.

But then I don't live in the USA...

That's why your response would not be efficient here. The SparrowHawk is
sold in the ultralight category ( 155 pounds), and is not required to
be licensed. There is no point in spending time on the pilot's
qualifications if you are certain the glider doesn't meet the
requirements of your insurance policy. If the pilot shows up in a
licensed glider, I'm sure the questions proceed immediately to the
pilot's qualifications.

A few SparrowHawks are licensed, but not most them, at least at this point.

--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

"Ian Forbes" wrote in message
news
Caracole wrote:

We recently had a pilot show up and ask if we would aerotow him in his
Sparrow Hawk. Our first question was to ask if the glider was
licensed.

My first question would be, is the pilot competent, current and licenced
to fly.

Because it is an ultralight aircraft, no pilot's license is required in
the United States, so the license question would be somewhat moot.
"competent and current" are always great first questions.

Vaughn






But then I don't live in the USA...


Ian

"Caracole" wrote in message
om...

We have now received the following reply from our insurance carrier,
SSA's group plan with Costello. This plan does not cover towplanes
while towing ultralights. If the light sailplane has FAA
airworthiness (Experimental), towing it would be covered by Costello.
If the light sailplane has FAA airworthiness (Experimental), it can be
insured by Costello for hull and liability.
If the light sailplane has no FAA airworthiness certificate, Costello
offers no hull/liability coverage. There may be other insurance
sources.

It is interesting that aviation is increasingly being regulated far
more stringently by the insurance companies than by the FAA. The term "Self
Regulation" does not quite apply except in the very general sense that the
regulation comes from within the aviation industry, so I guess we could more
accurately call it "Market-Based regulation", or even "Insurance-Based
regulation".

Vaughn

Will this all change with the coming of the "Sport Pilot Certificate" and
the "Sport Aircraft" certification?? I'm sure the Sparrow Hawk will fit into
that category.

That will make it an "aircraft" or glider, and not an ultra light, but a
Sport Aircraft. I'm sure no one wants a Sport Pilot or Sport "Glider", did I
not read somewhere that Sport aircraft category is limited to 2000ft AGL?
and a set "distance limit" from home, and also the holder of a Sport Pilot
Certificate?

We all await the final decision on "Sport", and how it impacts the soaring
community, as I understand it, a SGS 1-26 will qualify to be flown in the
Sport category by a "sport certificated pilot". But many have flown the 1-26
to great heights and distances.

Time to study up on the "Sport" restrictions and capabilities, of both pilot
and aircraft.

BT

"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message
news

"Caracole" wrote in message
om...

We have now received the following reply from our insurance carrier,
SSA's group plan with Costello. This plan does not cover towplanes
while towing ultralights. If the light sailplane has FAA
airworthiness (Experimental), towing it would be covered by Costello.
If the light sailplane has FAA airworthiness (Experimental), it can be
insured by Costello for hull and liability.
If the light sailplane has no FAA airworthiness certificate, Costello
offers no hull/liability coverage. There may be other insurance
sources.

It is interesting that aviation is increasingly being regulated far
more stringently by the insurance companies than by the FAA. The term
"Self
Regulation" does not quite apply except in the very general sense that the
regulation comes from within the aviation industry, so I guess we could
more
accurately call it "Market-Based regulation", or even "Insurance-Based
regulation".

Vaughn

In article VQP8c.9144$1I5.308@fed1read01,
BTIZ wrote:
Will this all change with the coming of the "Sport Pilot Certificate" and
the "Sport Aircraft" certification?? I'm sure the Sparrow Hawk will fit into
that category.

The Vne limit and 10,000 ft altitude Sport restrictions
discourage some glider makers from making
a glider a sport category aircraft...

--

------------+
Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA

When I was inquiring about towing an ultralight the FAA said that an "N"
numbered aircraft can't pull one without an "N" number.... this might also
be worth looking into.

-mat

very interesting.. I'll have to research that one..
it could be in the "FAR definition" of "aircraft, airplane, glider, and
ultralight"

BT

"mat Redsell" wrote in message
...
When I was inquiring about towing an ultralight the FAA said that an "N"
numbered aircraft can't pull one without an "N" number.... this might also
be worth looking into.

-mat