Category Archives: aircraft insurance

Aircraft annuals and the insurance company

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Thinking of flying your freshly “out of annual” aircraft to the mechanic for the annual?  Check your insurance coverage first!  Many insurance companies will not provide coverage for the aircraft if it is not in a current airworthiness status.
But wait!  It is licensed; it does have a current airworthiness…well not quite!  If the aircraft is out of annual and the owner gets a ferry permit, some people feel that makes it legal to fly.   Sort of.  Yes it is legal, by the FAA, to fly under the restricted permit.  All you have to do is follow the rules. 

BUT…the insurance company doesn’t always agree.  You could have the correct paperwork in the aircraft, the approved pilot and still not be covered.  The insurance policy often has a clause that will not provide coverage for the aircraft if it is not within current airworthiness.  In many peoples opinion this is a gray area of the airworthiness.  Airworthy means different things to the insurance company than to the pilot. 
What can you do?  Call the agent and get a little information.  Ask a few questions.  Check to see if the policy has any language about FAR’s.  Many companies have an exclusion in the policy that will not provide any coverage for any situation where the insured is found in non-compliance with the FAR’s.  We have found a few companies that don’t have any language pertaining to FAR’s (but they do have language that excludes out of annual aircraft).
With an aircraft that runs out of annual during a trip (poor planning for whatever reason) the coverage will probably be null and void.   Don’t put yourself into this type of situation.  The aircraft needs to have a ferry permit issued by the appropriate FAA Flight Standards District Office.  To do that requires that the aircraft have an entry in the logbooks from a mechanic stating that the aircraft is airworthy for a ferry flight.  Most of the time this means it does not have any outstanding AD’s that could jeopardize the flight, the flight has to be “Day VFR” and that only the required crew be on board.  In that situation having your friend fly along is not required.  Getting dual in the aircraft because you have never flown it before might be required for you, but not for the operation of the aircraft. 
If you want to fly and be insured with an aircraft that is out of annual the underwriter can put a note in the insurance company file and you’ll be okay.  Don’t be surprised if they charge you extra for this little bit of service.  If the aircraft has been out of annual for a long time, say over a month; make sure that you have a good relationship with the agent and the underwriter.  It might take a little work for the agent to get the underwriter to provide coverage.  Underwriters don’t like to cover aircraft that have been out of annual for a long time.  The risk is too high for failure and claims. 
If you bought an aircraft that was out of annual, you might not be able to get coverage at all.  Many insurance companies have decided that they will not take on a new risk that is not ready to fly.  That means the aircraft might be a good deal as is, out of annual, but you can’t bring it home insured.  If you want to buy an aircraft in this situation, call the agent first and let him know what the situation is.  We have been able to get coverage in a limited number of cases provided the aircraft has not been out of annual very long and the pilot was qualified to fly the aircraft. 

Whatever the situation, make sure you check you policy before you fly an aircraft that is out of annual… or hundred hour inspection, but that’s a different story.

Aircraft financing

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Thinking of buying an aircraft?  

Dream planes don’t come cheap.  If you are the type of person that is buying an aircraft for personal use (which is probably 95% of the buyers) the money is probably coming out of the discretionary income account.  That’s the extra stuff you have burning a hole in your pocket every month.  The money we spend on the things we really don’t need, but want.  Don’t get all up tight and try to tell everyone how important an aircraft purchase is, how you need it!  We’ve all been there and done that!  It may be necessary, but it’s not always rational!  Buying an aircraft is a very emotional decision.  Since an aircraft is extremely hard (if not impossible) to rationalize, you need to think of the money that you spend like fun money or maybe a stock market account.  And just think most aircraft have increased in value better than blue chips stocks.

If you have to buy…and it is always a have to… you need to come up with the money.   Either you dig into the savings accounts or you borrow money from a lending institution (or you’ve got the money stored in your mattress).  Do you need to finance?  That’s really a personal decision.  Many a good aircraft deal was missed because my funds were tied up in the wrong place (food, housing, clothing, etc.) 

But borrowing money can sometimes be the right means to the end!   Financing comes into play when you need to preserve your existing cash or when you need cash to begin with.  It’s even been said that another good reason to finance is because the average aircraft is only owned for a few years.  Why tie up one’s own money in equity in an aircraft that you don’t plan on owning for a very long time.  And one other thing, at this time, borrowing money is relatively cheap. 


Where will you go for the money?  After you’ve exhausted all your friends’ relatives and neighbors, you can go to your local lending institution (bank, credit union, savings bank) and ask for an aircraft loan.  In fact, most aircraft lending groups recommend that you check there first.  It may even be easier to get a local loan because of the existing banking relationship the buyer has with the institution.  But most local banks are not fluent in aircraft.   If the loan officer didn’t bust out laughing, you might have a chance.  If they stared glassy eyed straight past you at clock on the wall, mumbling something about a break, start looking elsewhere.

Below are six basic tips to make your financing experience a good one. 
1. Choose a finance source that understands aircraft
2. Select an aircraft that fits your needs (be realistic)
3. Review your credit history prior to applying for a loan (make sure your information is current and correct)
4. Put together a complete financial package which include: detailed loan application, Up to date personal financial statement, at least two years of income Verification (w-2, Payroll stubs, Tax returns and business tax returns if self-employed).
5. Provide a thorough description of the aircraft which could include log book copies, airframe and engine hours, equipment lists, result of pre-purchase inspection, pictures
6. Explain how the aircraft will be used, estimated hours of use, location of home base and any other details.

If you plan ahead and contact the loan underwriter with the above information the loan process can be completed in a few days (and that includes title searches, credit checks and insurance binders.)  Whichever airplane is your dream plane and no matter how much it cost or whatever financing method you use…remember, it’s only money!