Let's get the
facts straight first regarding what AIG requires and why!
Prior to May 1, 2005, there was little or no
insurance availability for Lancair kit aircraft. I had to negotiate with
Jim Anderson, then in charge of amateur/experimental aircraft with AIG, to
allow for a plan that would provide Lancair aircraft coverage. The
concerns he expressed were as to the amount and uniformity of training,
construction/assembly methods and powerplant selection. Lancair agreed to
impose conditions that are now in effect and would at least give us some
insurance availability through AIG. 1) The
aircraft submitted for insurance must be inspected by Lancair; and,
2) The pilot must receive training from HPAT or
an HPAT designee.
Within those two requirements lie the following:
Prior to first flight, Lancair has to inspect the aircraft; If the
aircraft has already flown, Lancair has to inspect the aircraft prior to AIG
issuing insurance; If the aircraft is sold, Lancair has to inspect the
aircraft again to insure that there has been no changes that would prevent it
from being insurable.
The inspections are available nation wide.
Lancair has and continues to schedule inspections no matter where the aircraft
may be. The inspections are not generally conducted by Tim or I, but by
Tim Wilson. If the aircraft passes the inspection, a certificate is sent
to the owner. That "Insurance Inspection" is signed by Tim
or I. The inspections are the best means possible to show compliance with
the original building instructions and methods expressed in the Lancair
literature. The inspections additionally may reveal areas that Lancair
has found to be problematic. Where a system or component may increase the
potential of loss to the insurer, Lancair will not issue the insurance
certificate until and unless that condition is resolved.
The second condition is for standardized and
continuous training. The person seeking coverage must participate in an initial
training, a second training session 6 months after the first and a final
training session 6 months following the second. Training must take place
annually thereafter. Let there be no mistake...HPAT is the training
company we are using. Many will disagree and suggest that HPAT is not
easy with which to communicate or that they are expensive (add your own comment
here ____________________). When I receive a comment about HPAT, I
immediately bring that concern to the attention of Pete Zaccagnino. It is
up to Pete and his employees to provide training. It is up to you to
schedule with him well in advance for your training needs and not wait until
the last minute to schedule training. Based on comments received, I have
asked Pete to expand his list of available instructors. I expect that he
will do this, however, there are some instructors who are not fully willing to
work within the structure set by HPAT. Those instructors should work with
Pete to resolve any incompatibility problems for the good of the Lancair owners
and pilots. Let me be clear, Lancair has never received a dime from HPAT
nor is it anticipated that it ever will. Lancair is not an owner or
member of the HPAT organization and will never be. Finally, this is not a
lifelong endorsement of HPAT. Should HPAT fail to provide all that I
expect from it in providing full training to our Lancair owners and pilots, you
can be assured that I will seek out another organization that will fulfill the
needs of both Lancair and those pilots owning and operating Lancair kit
aircraft.
None of this is for any purpose other than to provide
the greatest opportunity for us all to have access to hull and liability
insurance. Lancair's only potential for profit comes from the opportunity
to continue to develop and sell aircraft kits that can be
insured. Lancair has no product liability insurance because it is
not available to us. When one of our customers augers in, Lancair sends
someone to the crash site to assist in the investigation. While Lancair
has never been found at fault, it has had to expend tremendous amounts to
defend itself. The fact that Lancair conducts these inspections can
create additional liability problems yet we do it to assist in maintaining the
availability of insurance.
The aviation insurance industry is supposed to be
"softening." I have recently heard that Avemco is offering
insurance without these restrictions. I don't know the truth of
that. Perhaps when the accident rate subsides to a more
understandable rate (there will always be accidents as the weakest part of the
airframe sits in the pilot seat), then availability of insurance will go up and
premiums will go down. Accident rates will not go down appreciably until
rigorous and repetitive training, especially training regarding handling
emergencies, goes up.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and your
families. Please continue to fly safe.