Pilot Insurance Gotcha!
A Dassault Falcon 900 was damaged in a landing accident. When the owner filed an insurance claim the response was a dreaded “We don’t cover that”. Earlier the chief pilot acting for the owner requested issuance of a policy that would include coverage for a copilot who met basic standards under FAR 61.55.
When a policy was written it contained a higher qualification requirement that included training in a motion simulator for the aircraft make and model. This provision was not discovered until after the accident. The copilot had received 8-10 hours of training in a static simulation procedures trainer but had not trained in a motion simulator. Although there was no evidence that the copilot’s qualifications had anything to do with the accident, the insurance company did not have to pay for the damage.
Jay White, Calpilots General Counsel
