Refresh Your Coverage for Spring

As spring arrives, so do all the aircraft that were hibernating during the winter months. Aircraft are coming out of completion, major overhaul, and general storage just in time to meet the good flying weather.

With all these aircraft returning to flight status, there is naturally some final maintenance work wrapping up, which could include test flights and run-ups. If you know that the maintenance facility is going to conduct run-ups and test flights, do not assume that they are automatically covered to do so in your aircraft.

Just because a person is your mechanic, or because they work for an accredited facility, that doesn’t mean they meet the pilot clause, and it certainly doesn’t exempt them from the pilot requirements on your policy. Regardless of whether or not it’s your mechanic, anyone flying the aircraft must meet the open pilot warranty (OPW) if they are not already named on your policy. It is often assumed that because it’s a Part 145 repair station or because he/she is a licensed mechanic that coverage is automatic. This is not always the case.

Also, for those of you who put your aircraft on ground-only during the winter, do not forget to let your agent know that you’re back to flying again! This is one of the most common oversights when aircraft return to service after being grounded for an extended period of time. Your aircraft is too large of an investment for you to make any assumptions about coverage.