Helicopter Insurance Built Around You
and Your Mission
Helicopter Insurance
What you need To know.
Who it's for
Eligible owners & operators
Individual rotorcraft owners
Training academies
Corporate flight departments
Charter fleets
Mission-specific operators.
Coverage
What a policy typically includes
Flexible rotorcraft physical damage options based on your needs and risk tolerance
Commercial use and mission-specific endorsements for how you operate
Passenger and third-party liability options that protect you and offer legal defense
Non-owned rotorcraft liability for when you fly someone else's aircraft
Approval for the pilots you need, with training requirements that make sense
Premises, property, workers' compensation, and contract exposures coordinated in one place
What we need from you
To get your quote started
Aircraft details
make, model, year, agreed value
Pilot certificate
and total logged hours
Hours in make/model
plus recent 90-day hours
Intended use
pleasure, business, or instruction
Desired liability limits
Our
Process
Getting the right aviation insurance should not feel complicated. Ryan keeps the process clear and personal from start to finish.
Define the mission
We identify exactly how and where the helicopter will operate, who will fly it, who will be carried, and which contracts or customers affect the insurance requirements.
Build the underwriting picture
We present the helicopter, pilot experience, training, safety practices, territory needed, and mission as one complete risk rather than relying on a basic application alone.
Select markets with relevant appetite
Rotorcraft appetite can vary significantly by mission. We approach the entire market and make sure they evaluate the specific operation and what makes the risk unique.
Review coverage and conditions
We present a complete summary of the carriers and explain pilot requirements, approved uses, territorial limits, liability limits offered, deductibles, exclusions, and premium before coverage is selected and bound
From problem To Solution
The Situation
Expanding from private use into commercial survey work
A helicopter owner wanted to add charter use to a helicopter previously insured for private and business use. Ryan Aviation reviewed the proposed contracts, pilot experience, equipment details, operating area, training, and projected activity before approaching the market. Presenting the new mission in advance allowed the owner to evaluate whether the use could be approved, what conditions would apply, and whether the policy needed to change before the first commercial flight. The operation now has multiple helicopters and a pool of pilots.
The Testimonial
Zach Purvis
I’ve worked with Joe Ryan for the past seven years, going all the way back to when I first got into aviation as a student pilot. Since then, I’ve gone from student pilot, to aircraft owner, to owning and operating multiple aviation businesses and flight schools in both airplanes and helicopters.
Joe has been there through every stage of that growth and has been instrumental in helping me navigate the insurance side of aviation.
Today, I don’t just trust Joe with my own businesses and aircraft—I regularly refer my aircraft leasing clients to him as well. We lease aircraft to flight schools and operators nationwide, and having the right insurance coverage is absolutely critical. Joe understands the complexities of aircraft ownership, leasing, flight school operations, and commercial aviation insurance, and I trust him to make sure our clients are properly protected.
In this business, having people you can call who understand aviation and actually know what they’re doing is invaluable. Joe has been that person for me for seven years.
Whether I was a student pilot just getting started or operating multiple aviation companies today, Joe has always taken care of me and the people I send his way.
Joe is the man. I highly recommend him to anyone in aviation looking for an insurance broker they can build a long-term relationship with.
03 — THE SITUATION
A vintage aircraft, the wrong policy.
Why is helicopter insurance different from fixed wing?
Helicopters fly a wider range of missions, often close to terrain, structures, and people. Underwriters look closely at the mission, pilot rotorcraft experience, training path, and territory.
What pilot information will the underwriter want?
Certificates, ratings, total rotorcraft and turbine rotorcraft time if applicable. Make and model time, recent flying, training, and any claims or incidents. A complete electronic application up front means faster and better quotes.
Does the policy need to list every mission?
Yes, the policy’s use has to match what you actually do. A private use policy may not cover instruction, charter, utility, survey, patrol, or external load work. The policy should include language under the use section that provides a clear understanding of the uses you are conducting.
How do contracts affect my coverage?
Customer, airport, and lease contracts often require specific limits, additional insureds, or waivers. Have your broker or an expert review the contract and the policy together before the work begins so you have no surprises when the contract starts.
Can I add a helicopter or pilot mid-term?
Yes, policies allow for additions of pilots and helicopters midterm. The insurer may adjust the premium, deductible, or training requirements, so wait for written confirmation from the broker before flying.