A new survey finds there’s a disconnect between the proficiency of older pilots and aircraft owners and their insurance coverage.
The survey, sent to more than 30,000 pilots and aircraft owners by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, found that older pilots who are just as safe, current, and proficient as any others continue to find their insurance policies unceremoniously dropped or canceled or much more expensive — just for being a day older than 70.
Some findings of the survey:
- Pilots older than 70 have flown an average of nearly 70 hours in the past year (compared to a recent survey of AOPA members that found more than half of pilots were flying less than 50 hours).
- Respondents who are 70 or older were no more likely to have been involved in an accident in the past five years than younger pilots.
- More than 75% of the surveyed pilots over 70 have an instrument rating, compared to 66% under 70.
- More than 50% of the surveyed pilots over 70 have an airline transport pilot or commercial certificate, compared to 40% under 70.
- Older pilots are engaged and actively working to stay proficient: Those age 55 and older comprise more than 40% of the total viewership of AOPA Air Safety Institute YouTube safety videos.
“While insurance premiums have continued to rise and older pilots are finding it more challenging to stay covered or get a policy, the general aviation industry just experienced its safest year ever, marking a 29% year-over-year improvement in the accident rate,” AOPA officials noted.
“Medical incapacitation continues to be among the rarest of accident causes,” they add.
“We have looked at this issue from many sides, including a review of accident and incident data, and for some reason, carriers are not renewing policies or are quoting exorbitant premiums, even for pilots with impeccable safety and health records,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “These decisions are being made solely based on some arbitrary age, which doesn’t make sense.”
Baker and other AOPA leaders continue to remind carriers that age has little to do with proficiency and safety.
“I understand insurance companies need to run a business and the industry is trying to recover recent losses, but we need to get this market in the right place,” said Baker.
In the last year, AOPA’s insurance partner, AssuredPartners Aerospace, has teamed with an aviation insurer to explore options for pilots up to age 79.
“While this has helped some older pilots navigate the current insurance market, more work remains,” said AssuredPartners Aerospace CEO Bill Behan. “We are actively working with the industry to bring additional solutions that foster a stable market, and anticipate being able to promote new insurance carriers and options in the near future.”
In addition, AOPA officials note the association continues to work with state officials and others to ensure consumer protection rules are followed and explore how the industry can help prevent the “seemingly continuous peaks and valleys of the market.”
“Coverage decisions should be based on facts such as experience, and accident and incident claims — not a subjective factor like age,” they said.
In the meantime, AOPA officials remind older pilots that they should not let a current policy lapse when shopping for insurance.
“In fact, be very mindful when considering changing carriers, as a policy with a new insurance company could be harder to obtain,” they said.
“If we want to look at the best way for all of us to stay proficient and sharp, and help keep claims down, we need to simply keep flying. We’re better pilots — and our aircraft stay safer — when we continue to enjoy this passion for the freedom to fly,” Baker said.
They have no problem insuring a single pilot in a jet. However, it’s too dangerous for a two pilot airplane to fly with one pilot over 70.
Commercial and general aviation pilots are being attacked. It’s time for all pilots to enter a class action lawsuit against all insurance agents, underwriters and companies who contribute to this blatant willful and intentional age discrimination. It appears that Pilot organizations seem to be colluding with insurance companies just based on their lack of action and their “there’s not much we can do” attitude. We join these pilot organizations to defend pilots rights and its disgusting to see the spineless responses from their spokespersons. EAA and AOPA should step up now! The first thing is make a record of it how it has affected each of you. For example I was well qualified to fly a P210 under part 91. Insurance quote was 3000 dollars higher than the next less qualified and less experienced pilot based on age. Although it would have been part time it still was a loss of up to 40,000.00 dollars a year. That is a substantial amount.The reason insurance companies are going in this direction is because of their major losses regarding Boeing Max. Boeing was fully insured and drained the insurance collective pool. Lets hear from some attorney pilots and start the process. First and foremost is to file a writ of prohibition in all jurisdictions to put a stop to these blatant acts and bring our insurance in line with the average through out the industry.
Age75. 4000 hrs Asel Ases IA. Coml
Partner 65. Less rating’s
No incidents or claims either.
Avemco 1/2 of others with only requirements annual AME medical and annual FR. No prob. 3400
Probably next year liability only.
My Mooney 205 is going to keep flying regardless. Bast**ds.
I am 65 and have 9000.00+ hrs. And never had a accident or incident. I fly all kinds of planes and I currently fly t turbo prop the insurance company said they were going to drop me at age 66 because at that age I would be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Even though I have never had a issue and pass a second class every year. The hole insurance issue is totally discriminatory.
I too know what y’all are going through.
A good way to put a stop to this discrimination is for AOPA to canvas all of its members to see just how many of us are having this issue and then employ their contracted attorneys to file a class action suit against all underwriters for every member pilot that is going through this Insurance BS. They should also lobby congress to do something about it.
With over 25,000 accident free hours in everything from J3, most Cessna and Beech models, Douglas DC3 through DC10 and B757, with no violations or claims, AIG has decided since I’m turning 80 this year, they won’t write the policy if I am named on it in a C650 I’ve flown professionally and maintained for the past 12 years. Can’t even fly SIC. They damn near tripled the premium last year. WHY? Where do they get their criteria that we are dangerous?
Personally, I believe AOPA is nothing more than another talk big and do nothing organization anymore. Have any of you witnessed anything they do to help their members?
I’d sign up for that. Who’se doing the hiring of counsel?
Art
Huh?
It happened to me too. The insurance decided that 75 was too old to fly my Lancair ES and while not canceling me, implemented multiple requirements that were almost impossible to satisfy. I sold my plane and am out of aviation.
72 years old. The process of moving out of my T210 and learning another airplane and it’s avionics when I’m intimately familiar with my plane seems a higher risk to me than allowing me to fly the plane I know so well and have worked very hard to maintain. 41 years without a claim, no incidences or actions, a commercial and instrument rating, 3,600 total hours and 2,600 in make and model surely must mean something. And the industry provides no actuarial data to justify anything age related.
In the past when rates had also been run up by the insurance industry for the 210s specifically the excuse was “well, it has six seats”. So I did a 10 year retrospective study of the number of fatalities in any fatal wreck comparing the 210s to the 182s. In fact the number of fatalities per fatal wreck of the 210s was lower than the fatalities per 182 crash. That’s not a typo. In fatal wrecks the 182 had more fatalities per crash than the 210s. So much for the six seat argument.
Let’s imagine the problem is gear up landings and hull coverage. Of course that’s an issue. But it’s a completely different argument than the implication that older pilots have more gear up landings. In fact I would bet they have fewer. So what are the numbers, Insurance Industry? Can you justify anything but age discrimination WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAW? Your decades long customers deserve an explanation.
Maybe AOPA should approach ONE carries and suggest a more cooperative relationship with the pilots. IF AOPA can bring a large number of pilots to the table it might be possible to negotiate with the company for a lower and more standardized rate for the Group. Just like I did as an employer and negotiate for a lower rate because we had a larger group for them to insure!
I was a month short of 72 when I renewed my insurance on a Bellanca Super Viking. I called to see why my rate had increased so much and age was the 1st reason. The 2nd reason, I was a month short of 5 years since an incident where the nose gear would not extend and I had to land in that configuration. The aircraft was fresh out of annual that week and I was doing my BFR. Reason was a mechanical issue and not due to pilot error but I was getting penalized for it. I remember the adjuster telling me I did a hell of a good job since they were expecting a lot more damage than what there was. So for staying current and doing a great job handling an actual emergency, I got penalized.
I queried the insurance company last year about a significant increase in premium and was told there are fewer underwriters which was contributing to the problem. Perhaps the aviation groups could come up with a way to entice more underwriters thus creating a more competitive market. One where age is less a factor and owner pilots are not penalized for incidents and accidents that were not their fault.
publish the ages of the pilots of fatal plane accidents——most are WELL under “65”…and place into the hands of insurance CEO’s please…they seem to need a wake call.
Yes, and there is a ‘killing zone’ between 51 and 350 hours where VFR pilots are most likely to be killed in a crash.
re; ‘The Killing Zone’ by Paul Craig.
I’m 74 and fly a Cessna 175 and have only have a 10% increase in the hull insurance.
It is both snarky and offensive as well as true!
I have been flying for over 40 years. My first plane I paid $13000.00 for I flew 100 to 200 hrs per year with no insurance. When I started working on my instrument rating my instructor would not fly with me until I got insurance. I bought a Mooney in 1988 and the same instructor checked me out in it. I bought a Citabria 7GCBC 10 year’s ago. I turned 71 last January. I am Instrument, multiengine, commercial SEL,MEL,SES, TW. I live on a airport I’ll get in 3 touch & go daily before I go to work when I can. My insurance company sent me a renewal quote for the Citabria and did not quote the Mooney after 33 years they thought I would forget to put the gear down. I sold both planes and bought a new Husky you can’t take it with you.
AOPA, EAA and others are hearing from members who are over 70 but I don’t see much other than hand-wringing and sympathy .. no action.
Short sweet and well said
I’m a longtime member of AOPA and find membership valuable. That said, I don’t understand why the AOPA doesn’t establish some kind of self insurance trust for ALL pilots and compete with carriers. With features like stop loss insurance, it could be a viable path forward. I once suggested this to the AOPA and never received a response.
The question not addressed by AOPA is what age group is having the most insurance claims. I imagine the over 70 group has the highest level of claims. I think that’s the major factor insurance companies base their rates on. It would be nice to see the data. Not saying the practice is just, just curious as to the numbers.
This is exactly the question that comes to mind when reading this article. I’m 72, live I’m a Airpark, fly 2-3 days a week about 80 hrs annually and never had a claim. After flying for 50 years in all types of aircraft, complex, tail wheel etc my premium on a C-170 insured at 60k hull best quote was $2,200. I dropped hull and bought a 1m liability policy with a $400 premium. I can honestly say I am more cautious and a better more experienced pilot than I was in my 30’s. Insurance companies show me the numbers.
I am 84 and an active pilot with commercial, instrument, CFI & Basic medical. Will I be able to afford liability insurance???
Trying hard to find a company that will insure a seasoned vintage pilot!
Can you help me?
G Klett
979–229-1103
I just put two new engines on my C310R plus overhauled the props and installed all electric instruments, I am a retired commercial pilot with 30,000 plus hours, fly between 80 and a 100 hours a year and to insure my plane for its value, It cost as much as fuel for 1 year. The insurance companies are running us out of owning an airplane unless we self insure. It is unjust.
Most airports require proof of $1M liability insurance, so for most of us self insuring isn’t an option.
Age discrimination is illegal. There is no reason for allowing it. Pilots and aviation organizations who take money from the aviation insurance industry (AOPA, EAA and others) need to wake up and stop sponsoring the companies that engage in denying pilots the rights that the FAA or other world aviation licensing bodies allow. It isn’t right and it isn’t legal. At LancairTalk we have teamed up with one company who will not deny any pilot with a third class FAA medical. Speak up, write your organizations and tell them to stop taking ad money if they engage in these practices.
Why have you limited the Basic Medical???
I’d appreciate the name of that company. Thank you.
I am 71 years old and away from flying for a long time for financial reasons. I am retiring and ready to fly my 1990 Mooney MSE once again. I wonder how expensive it will be and not sure weather the ‘Dream will be just a dream, on it will come true’.
This is exactly the question that comes to mind when reading this article. I’m 72, live I’m a Airpark, fly 2-3 days a week about 80 hrs annually and never had a claim. After flying for 50 years in all types of aircraft, complex, tail wheel etc my premium on a C-170 insured at 60k hull best quote was $2,200. I dropped hull and bought a 1m liability policy with a $400 premium. I can honestly say I am more cautious and a better more experienced pilot than I was in my 30’s. Insurance companies show me the numbers.
Balraj, I expect your experience will be the same as mine. They will quote you a policy price on your complex Mooney than suggest you sell it and replace with an Archer or 172. Insurance companies don’t believe pilots over 70 can remember to maintain their aircraft or drop the gear before landing,
We’ve had no issues with insurance coverage and tow of our members are well over 70. We’ve been with the same carrier for 10 years nd have a solid relationship
Insurance coverage should be treated like auto insurance coverage. If you are a good pilot, no issues, claims do everything according to rules and reg’s. no claims, then you should be treated as such and with respect. If you violate rules and regs. crash airplanes, have several claims to your name and continue to be a unsafe pilot, then you should pay the premium it deserves. Like auto insurance, If you are a bad driver you will pay for your performance, that rule appears to be working very good thus far. So if you fly right and do things correctly and safe you need to pay only what is required, not for someone else’s mistakes and bad habits. All that is required by the insurance co. is look up that person’s license no. and charge accordingly, end of story….
That comment is not true, At age 80 automobile & aviation insurance companies charge more based on age. 40 + years with auto company & 17 + years aviation , no accidents or claims with either. RATES jumped because I am older. Current, qualified & basic medical, Commercial RW & Private Pilot SEL & not on any medications.
I believe that there are several things to consider for flight proficiency. Hours as PIC are one thing but how you accumulated those hours are a big factor. Long cross country flights vrs. More short flights with more take offs.
How many landing? Last 90 days of flight can be misleading. Was your plane in for longs annual during that period.
I find that since I am retired I now have much more time to read, study, attend webinars, and fly. I also tend to fly during the week when there is mush less traffic also less training flights. This past weekend was perfect for flying but I waited till Monday. Just as nice and I has the airport to myself.
Having reached the magic age of 80, The broker I was using sold out to Assurred Partners & my rates jumped. I was insuring 2 PA-22’s, last year for this renewal, each jumped $130.00. Qualifications 3500 plus hours, Commercial RW/Instrument, SEL private with tail wheel & high performance endorsements. Questions asked broker while still age 79 & well before renewal, if rates will increase due to age. WAS TOLD No they will not increase. Long story short, THEY LIED. For this renewal, AIG was selected again, but I suspect, although no definative answer, Assured did not even send it out for a quote. Another issue, since I had a non aviation related injury, I self grounded during previous policy period, and when ready to return to flight had several refresher flights with a CFI. BFR sign off, Basic Med current, 6 months later with several more individual flights, Renewal time, RATE JUMP. AND with requirement for 10 hour dual required for the PA-22-160, but not for PA-22-150 …. Go figure. After several calls, requirement for 10 hr CFI dual was dropped, but corrected policy not received until several more phone calls before I received the corrected copy removing the requirement for the 10 hr dual. As a side note, health wise, zero medications, wear glasses to read news paper/computer, not required for driving, must have available for flight. So, they do discriminate due to AGE. Experience does NOT MATTER. US Army Rotary Wing flight school 1970, retired Army Jan 1981 and FAA Commercial Pilot 1984.
Mr Baker I worked with the AOPA insurance broker and was quoted a rate 3 times what I ended up paying. So it would seem to me that your broker is one of the problems. May you should sit with them and ask ‘why’ their rates are so high. If another can offer far better rates then Shirley , AOPA should be able to do the same.
If the data doesn’t support a higher premium based solely on age, then why don’t the laws against age discrimination apply?
I have a 1st class medical, and recent ‘single pilot CJ type rating’ passed on first checkride from Flight Safety, ATP, CFIIME, 21,000 hrs mostly G.A., with over 1000hrs this year, but same insurance problems at age 71.