Aircraft by Type

How aircraft category shapes coverage, pricing, and underwriting requirements

Aircraft type directly influences your insurance: performance, mission profile, hull value, seating capacity, operating environment, and pilot experience all change the risk picture. Underwriters weigh factors like training requirements, make/model time, parts availability, and where you fly—water, off-airport, controlled airports, or formation/airshow ops—to set terms, limits, and premiums.

Single-Engine

Ideal for personal, training, and light business use. Pricing is driven by total and recent time, make/model experience, training plans, and storage. Options commonly include passenger liability, non-owned coverage for renters, and hull choices (ground-only, ground & taxi, full flight).

Multi-Engine

Twins add redundancy and performance, which can expand missions but raise underwriting standards. Insurers look closely at multi-engine time, recency, and simulator/mentor training. Expect higher liability options and endorsements tailored to complex systems and equipment values.

Turbine

Turboprops and jets require formal training and rigorous maintenance programs. Hull values and mission range often call for higher liability limits, international territory approvals, and lender/lessor requirements such as breach-of-warranty and agreed value provisions.

Experimental / Homebuilt

Coverage can evolve from construction and ground-risk-only to Phase I flight test and then Phase II operations. Underwriters consider build documentation, test plans, transition training, and the engine/prop combination when setting terms and endorsements.

Seaplane / Amphibious

Water operations introduce unique exposures like docking, beaching, corrosion, and salvage considerations. Experience on water, operating areas, and storage (mooring vs. hangar) are key to pricing and to selecting navigation limits and seasonal-use flexibility.

Rotorcraft

Helicopter risk varies widely by mission—training, personal transport, utility/lift, or EMS. Insurers focus on PIC time-in-type, landing zones, maintenance programs, and safety systems. Policies often include rotor-specific hull considerations and tailored liability.

Vintage / Warbirds

Classic and ex-military aircraft often require specialty underwriting. Pilot pedigree, formation/airshow qualifications, parts availability, and valuation methods matter. Expect options like agreed value hull, spares/tools coverage, and flexible ground-only or ferry provisions during restoration.