Dedicated liability and physical damage coverage for pilots who fly aircraft they do not own.
If you rent, borrow, or are otherwise authorized to fly an aircraft you do not own, the owner’s insurance may not protect you.
Most aircraft owners and flight schools carry insurance on their aircraft. However, that coverage is designed to protect the aircraft owner or business — not you as the pilot. If an incident occurs while you are acting as pilot in command, you could face personal liability claims, property damage lawsuits, or subrogation demands from the owner’s insurer seeking to recover what it paid out.
A Pilots & Renters policy (sometimes called a Non-Owned Aircraft policy) provides you with your own layer of protection. It covers your personal liability exposure and can also protect you against subrogation claims for physical damage to the aircraft itself. This type of policy is essential for any pilot who regularly flies aircraft belonging to someone else.
A comprehensive Pilots & Renters policy addresses the specific exposures you face when operating non-owned aircraft.
This coverage is appropriate for any certificated pilot who regularly operates aircraft they do not own.
Training in school-owned aircraft and building hours toward certification. The flight school’s policy is not designed to protect you individually.
Pilots who rent from FBOs, flying clubs, or aircraft rental companies on a regular or occasional basis.
CFIs teaching in student-owned or school-owned aircraft. Instructors carry unique liability exposure that requires explicit policy endorsement.
Pilots who borrow aircraft from friends, family, or business associates. Informal arrangements carry the same legal exposure as commercial rentals.
Pilots employed to fly company-owned or company-leased aircraft. Corporate policies may not extend personal liability protection to the individual pilot.
Pilots & Renters coverage is a niche product that demands aviation-specific expertise to structure correctly.
Aviation insurance has its own vocabulary. Here are the terms most relevant to Pilots & Renters coverage.
Subrogation is the legal process by which an insurance company, after paying a claim to its insured, seeks reimbursement from the party responsible for the loss. In aviation, if you damage a rented aircraft, the owner’s insurer pays the owner and then pursues you — the pilot — for repayment. Your Pilots & Renters policy defends against and pays these subrogation claims up to your policy limits.
A named pilot warranty is a policy provision that restricts coverage to one or more specifically identified pilots. On a Pilots & Renters policy, you are the named pilot. The policy covers you and only you when operating non-owned aircraft. If you allow someone else to fly under your rental agreement, that person is generally not covered by your policy.
Your policy will specify a maximum aircraft value for subrogation or physical damage coverage. This limit should reflect the value of the most expensive aircraft you regularly fly. If you rent a $250,000 aircraft but your policy limit is $100,000, you are personally exposed for the remaining $150,000 in the event of a total loss. We help you set this limit appropriately.
Most Pilots & Renters policies define the types of flying that are covered — commonly referred to as approved uses. Typical categories include pleasure and business use, flight instruction (given or received), and rental or club operations. If you fly for a purpose not listed in your policy, a claim arising from that flight may be denied. Make sure your policy reflects everything you actually do in the cockpit.
Liability limits define the maximum amount your policy will pay for bodily injury and property damage claims per occurrence. Pilots & Renters policies are typically available with combined single limits ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 or more. The appropriate limit depends on passenger exposure, the areas where you fly, and your personal asset protection needs. Higher limits provide broader protection but increase your premium.
A deductible is the portion of a covered loss you must pay out of pocket before your insurance responds. On a Pilots & Renters policy, deductibles typically apply to the physical damage or subrogation coverage component. Deductibles may be expressed as a fixed dollar amount or as a percentage of the aircraft’s insured value. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium but increases your out-of-pocket exposure in the event of a claim.