Owning a private aircraft offers something few other assets can: time. The ability to travel on your own schedule, between your homes, your businesses, and the people who matter most. It also introduces a set of risks that are unlike anything else in a family’s insurance program. Aviation insurance is a specialized market, and the details of a policy, especially its pilot and use provisions, can determine whether a claim is paid.
Hull Coverage: Protecting the Aircraft
Hull coverage pays for physical damage to the aircraft, whether in flight, on the ground, or while taxiing. Most policies insure the aircraft at an agreed value that should reflect current market conditions. Values for business jets can move significantly, so we recommend reviewing the agreed value at every renewal. Consider also:
- Coverage for engines and avionics, including how partial losses are settled.
- Deductibles for in-motion and not-in-motion losses.
- Loss of use coverage, which helps pay for replacement lift while the aircraft is being repaired.
- Coverage for spare parts and equipment kept in the hangar.
Liability: The Most Important Decision
An aviation accident can involve passengers, people on the ground, and property, and the resulting claims can be extraordinary. Aircraft liability is typically written as a combined single limit covering bodily injury and property damage in one total limit. Business jet owners commonly carry limits well into eight figures. We encourage clients to avoid policies with per-passenger sub-limits, which can severely restrict protection for the people you are flying.
Personal umbrella policies generally exclude aircraft, so the aviation policy itself must carry the limits you need. We help clients set those limits based on the aircraft, the number of passengers typically carried, and the family’s overall net worth.
Pilot Warranties and Requirements
Every aviation policy includes an open pilot warranty or a list of named pilots, along with minimum qualifications such as total flight hours, hours in type, recurrent training, and medical certification. If the aircraft is flown by a pilot who does not meet these requirements, coverage may not apply. This is one of the most common sources of uncovered aviation losses. Before adding a new pilot, changing management companies, or upgrading aircraft, contact your advisor so requirements can be confirmed in advance.
Ownership Structure, Management, and Charter
Many aircraft are owned through a limited liability company and operated by a professional management company. Some are placed on a charter certificate to offset costs. Each of these arrangements affects the insurance program:
- All owning entities, operators, and management companies should be properly named on the policy.
- If the aircraft is used for charter, the operator’s policy and the owner’s interests must be carefully coordinated.
- Waivers of subrogation and additional insured requirements from airports, FBOs, and lenders should be reviewed.
- Fractional ownership and jet card programs carry their own coverage terms, which owners should understand.
Hangars, Ground Risks, and Hurricanes
Hangar keepers coverage, ground handling, and non-owned hangar liability should all be addressed. In Florida, aircraft owners should have a hurricane plan that includes evacuation flights or secure hangar space well before airports close. Wind damage to aircraft on the ground is a common hurricane claim.
International Travel
Flying internationally can require proof of coverage that meets local regulations, specific liability limits, and certificates in multiple languages. Confirm territorial limits before every international trip, especially to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Coordinating With the Rest of Your Program
Aviation insurance should not stand alone. We coordinate it with your umbrella policy, business coverage, and any directors and officers coverage that may apply when executives travel on company aircraft. Gaps between these policies are where unexpected exposure hides.
Aircraft Under Construction, Purchase, or Sale
Transitions create some of the most overlooked aviation exposures. When purchasing an aircraft, coverage should begin at the moment of transfer, including any ferry flights, pre-buy inspections, and positioning to the new base. When selling, coverage must remain in place through delivery. Aircraft undergoing major maintenance, refurbishment, or completion work may need specific coverage while in the care of a maintenance facility, and the facility’s own insurance should be reviewed. We coordinate these transitions closely with buyers, brokers, and management companies.
Passengers, Guests, and Medical Payments
Owners frequently fly family, friends, and business guests. Medical payments coverage for passengers, regardless of fault, can provide immediate help after an injury and goodwill at a difficult time. Guest voluntary settlement coverage, available on some policies, offers a predetermined payment to passengers or their families in exchange for a release of liability. These features, combined with a high combined single limit, reflect the care owners want for the people they fly.
Specialized Guidance for Owners
At Eton Bridge, we work with specialized aviation markets to design coverage around how you actually use your aircraft. We review pilot warranties, ownership structures, and liability limits each year, and we remain available whenever your plans change. Learn more about our aircraft insurance or request an aviation quote.
