Ferry Insurance

[PilotRPI]

Looking to get a plane ferried and was curious about insurance for the person ferrying. Avemco said if they met the minimum requirements, they would be covered for hull insurance but not liability. Do ferry pilots usually have their own non-owners policy for hull and liability?

If I were to name them on my policy I would no longer get non-owned coverage I want with my policy, so don't think that is an option. Checking with some other insurers too.

 

[mandm]

Where are you ferrying to/from?

I think you can name additional pilots on your policy.

 

[Mikey52]

Where are you ferrying to/from?

I think you can name additional pilots on your policy.

And some ferry pilots get non owners insurance to protect them.

 

[PilotRPI]

TX to MA. If I name another person, I believe I will lose my non-owned insurance that I want in case I want to rent while I own.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Looking to get a plane ferried and was curious about insurance for the person ferrying. Avemco said if they met the minimum requirements, they would be covered for hull insurance but not liability. Do ferry pilots usually have their own non-owners policy for hull and liability?

If they meet the open pilot warranty, you will be covered for hull damage they cause. The ferry pilot is on their own - potentially for both hull and liability. Amin other things there's probably a commercial use exclusion in your policy.

“Usually have their own policy” doesn’t help. If it’s a concern, you want to know whether the ferry pilot you hire has it.

 

[AvNavCom]

TX to MA. If I name another person, I believe I will lose my non-owned insurance that I want in case I want to rent while I own.

That doesn't make any sense. Insurance for non-owned aircraft is either coverage which exists as a clause in an owner's insurance policy (mine, for example, covers me for all piston-singles) or as a completely separate policy. Similarly, my policy covers me for others to fly my aircraft (under the Pilot Qualification Amendment) as long as they meet certain hours requirements in make and model.

I imagine that most ferry pilots would have non-owned aircraft as their own insurance coverage. Assuming that you have insurance on this aircraft you're proposing to have ferried, the pilot may already be covered under your Pilot Qualification Amendment (assuming sufficient total time and hours in type) or you can add them as an "Additional Insured" which is just an amendment and may incur a premium change.

I would strongly recommend that you have coverage for this person as well as the ferry pilot carrying their own coverage.

 

[midlifeflyer]

That doesn't make any sense.

Struck me funny too. I can see an insurer saying, "we're happy to give you - the guy paying the premiums - non-owned coverage, but not this guy you've added as an additional insured." But there are other ways I've seen insurers write that in without affecting the customer's coverage.

That's kinda the problem with, "this is what they said" in this area. Things get lost in translation. Usually, it's the customer who misunderstands because of unfamiliarity with insurance contracts. For example, I can be pretty sure Avemco did not say " if they (the ferry pilot) met the minimum requirements, they (the ferry pilot) would be covered for hull insurance." I've even see situations in which brokers have misread the policies they are selling.

Personally, in this situation, I would be asking Avemco to send me a sample of the applicable endorsement so I could read what it will say.

 

[unsafervguy]

when i had the T-6 ferried, i just named the ferry pilot on the policy. that way he was covered as well. if i were him i would not have ferried it otherwise.

 

[PilotRPI]

Beats me. Tried calling them again but they were closed. Will ask them again on Monday and hoping for the actual policy so I can read it myself. Had multiple people tell me the same thing.

 

[Warlock]

There could be books written about aircraft insurance and open pilot requirements and is the open pilot offered any coverage ….I can assure you most miss interpret the coverage and unless stated specifically their is none. The owner will end up with the liability or at least the lawsuits if something happens.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

I wonder if it matters if the ferry pilot is being paid.
Ie a commercial activity which changes the dynamics considerably.
Is he being paid?

 

[midlifeflyer]

There could be books written about aircraft insurance and open pilot requirements and is the open pilot offered any coverage ….I can assure you most miss interpret the coverage and unless stated specifically their is none. The owner will end up with the liability or at least the lawsuits if something happens.

99% of of it is not "misinterpretation." You have to read something in order to misinterpret it. They typical open pilot discussion is "someone said..." or " "I can assure you..." . I've rarely seen one where someone posted a copy of the applicable policy language.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I wonder if it matters if the ferry pilot is being paid.
Ie a commercial activity which changes the dynamics considerably.
Is he being paid?

I think we're assuming that "ferry pilot" means "someone I hired to do a job" rather than "a buddy doing me a favor."

But if the policy excludes commercial use, yeah, receipt of compensation can make a difference. For example, the version of the AVEMCO standard policy I have includes an owner warranty that "The aircraft will be used only for non-commercial use." In turn, "'Non-Commercial' use means private pleasure and business use, excluding any use for hire, money or any form of reward or compensation."

But these issues are often taken care of by an endorsement adding the ferry pilot as an additonal insured for liability purposes when operating on behalf of the policyholder. As you can imagine, it's pretty common.