Insurance Question or ideas

Hi Jim-

   My first thought is you need to get a different insurance agent.  That is a ridiculous quote for that coverage.  I do aerobatic and tailwheel instruction in a Super Decathlon with a hull value of $82K and last year's premium was $2200, of which $750 was for the dual rider.

   If you want to contact me directly I think there is a way to do it through this site, I forget how it works but I would be happy to visit with you either by email or phone.

                                Cheers, Tony

I hate to sound like I'm shilling for the "company store," but....Jim, have you tried the EAA insurance program?

http://www.eaa.org/insurance/ 

I carry only liability on my Fly Baby, but my premium dropped in half when I switched to the EAA program from my previous insuror.

Unfortunately, from everything I have found, if you have any of the words airplane, aircraft, airport, gas or fuel anywhere in your description to your insurance company, you are looking at about $5000/year.  Just the way it appears to be.

I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you find a company more reasonable.  If you do, please let us know!

I insure my Aeronca Chief (liability only - no hull) with AOPA for a bit over $400 a year.  I figure for a couple of thousand a year, if I crunch it - I'll just have to stop flying.  I'm covered if I hurt anyone else, and I'll just live with my loss if it happens.

But then, I'm not instructing in it - so premiums may go a bit higher if I'm knowingly letting an untrained pilot drive my airplane.

Jim,

I have the same coverage on my J3-65 with a C-85 engine as you. The annual premium is around $800.00/year through USAA.

USAA works through the same agency as EAA, Falcon Insurance in Austin, TX. although the EAA quote was a little higher than through USAA.

The underwriter with the best quote this year was Starr.

If the agent that gave you that high quote has locked you out of the market you will have to request that he frees up your N number so you can get quotes from other agents.

Ron

advancedtailwheeltraining.com

I have full coverage on my Archer. One million, hull, in motion, not in motion the works and it is 800/year.  The instrument rating and the hangar help on the price.  Other pilots limited to min 250 hrs. and 25 in type.

It seems that most of the responses so far fail to realize that you're buying Commercial Insurance. You plan on renting your aircraft. That student pilot soloing with 10 hours in a Champ with a 5 knot crosswind. Hummm! I've considered what you are considering and this very issue is what has stopped me. So far in 20 years I've never had a student have an accident but have seen some close calls. Depending on how many hours an airplane is rented in a year this single factor can add from $20 to about $50 an hour to the cost.            

Jim,

John is absolutely correct, my insurance on the J3 is B&P only. On my Citabria I have B&P with the same dollar limits plus a rider that states; "Dual instruction, private pilot or better". This rider costs me an additional $400.00/year over and above the $750.00/year B&P premium. My total insurance cost with the rider is $1,150.00/year.

That rider allows me to instruct in the Citabria and give tailwheel checkouts, spin training, and unusual attitude recovery training which is all I want to do. It does not allow me to do primary instruction or allow students to solo or rent the plane.

The Citabria insurance is through the Austin, Tx branch of Falcon Insurance and is underwritten by London Aviation Underwriters. LAU is based in Seattle and does a lot of Alaska market so are very familiar with Tailwheel Aircraft.

As an aside, my agent, Heather Suta, spent a lot of time finding this underwriter who would be willing to write the above policy. Another agent in the same office did not work as hard and we had to request a change in our agent of record to finally get a person who would put the effort into doing the job right. All agents (even within the same agency) are not equal.

Ron

advancedtailwheeltraining.com