How much liability do I need?
It depends on who you fly with. A common starting point for piston aircraft is $1 million per occurrence with a $100,000 limit per passenger. When available, a combined single limit (CSL) is usually the better choice, because it doesn’t cap what’s paid per passenger. If you regularly fly business associates, clients, or friends with […]
Will my premium drop as I build hours?
Usually, yes. Underwriters price heavily on experience, and certain milestones tend to open up better rates and more markets. Common ones are time in your make and model (often around 100 hours), total time thresholds like 300, 500, 750, and 1,000 hours, and about 250 hours of multi-engine time for twins. Adding an instrument rating, […]
What insurance companies do you represent?
Ryan Aviation Insurance is an independent aviation broker and can place business with every A rated aviation insurance carrier. As an independent aviation brokerage, we represent you and your interests. We take your policy to every market that writes your type of risk, then lay the options side by side so you can compare coverage […]
What is a named pilot?
A named pilot is someone listed by name on your policy and approved by the underwriter. Most policies also have an open pilot warranty, which covers any pilot who meets set minimums, such as certificates, ratings, and hours, without being named. If someone you want flying your aircraft doesn’t meet every part of that warranty, […]
Why did my premium change this year?
Several things move a premium: how many underwriters competed for your business (limited by the amount of underwriters a broker is contracted with), changes in your experience, claims history (yours and the industry’s), your aircraft’s value, and how you use the aircraft. Getting your policies in front of every underwriter can provide the best chance […]
Can I dry lease my aircraft or rent it?
Often yes, and some policies include endorsements that allow you to rent your aircraft to specific pilots. Regardless of the arrangement, tell your broker before you do it. A dry lease to another person or entity under Part 91 is common. The underwriter may need to add the lessee to the policy, sometimes for an […]
How long does it take to get a quote?
A full market review takes about 4 to 5 business days once I have your completed application. Faster quotes, even same-day, are possible, but you’ll only see the first underwriters to respond, not the whole market. Underwriters prioritize requests with a coverage date within 30 days, so if you’re buying, reach out early. Moving into […]
I got a quote via phone, can I bind that once I close on my aircraft?
A quote via phone may be a brokers estimation of the premium, training requirements, and terms based on their experience or best guess. This type of estimation can be useful when you’re researching a purchase or budgeting for an upgrade. Firm terms come after a full application goes to the underwriters, and the final number […]
Is aircraft insurance like car insurance?
Not really. Car insurance is a huge market where you can call a dozen companies in an afternoon and get quotes. Aviation insurance is a small, specialized market with only a couple dozen underwriters, and almost all of them work only through specialist brokers. It also runs on a broker-of record system: the first broker […]