Flight School Business Insurance

Company insurance is intended to safeguard the financial assets of a business owner and is a vital investment for a flying school.

This article will discuss the primary insurance coverage for flying schools, general liability insurance, as well as additional policies that are appropriate for this industry.

Flight Schools Need General Liability Insurance

Every firm, regardless of sector, has risks that should be insured. General liability insurance is the most frequent and comprehensive form of coverage that company owners purchase.

General liability insurance covers the following risks:

Physical harm

Damage to property

Medical expenses

Legal defence and decision

Personal and commercial harm

While general liability insurance is not legally needed for companies, operating without it is exceedingly dangerous. If your company is sued, you might face costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). The only way to avoid this sort of catastrophe from destroying your organisation is to have an adequate general liability insurance coverage in place to assist pay for these losses.

GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE MAY COVER COMMON SITUATIONS FOR A FLIGHT SCHOOL

Example 1: During a visit to your flying school, a prospective student stumbles over some equipment he does not notice, falls and fractures his arm, and requests you to pay for his medical care. If he files a lawsuit, his general liability insurance would pay his medical fees and any associated damages.

Example 2: The owner of a competitor flying school sues your company, alleging you slandered her school in a recent advertising campaign. While you disagree with the allegation, you are aware that you need legal counsel. General liability insurance would cover your legal defence as well as any settlement losses.

Example 3: While bringing an aircraft around to the front of your shop to attract new clients, an employee forgets to check left as she prepares to park and collides with a customer’s automobile. If the client chose to sue, general liability insurance would cover the cost of car repairs as well as any further damages.

Of course, this is not an entire list of risks covered by a general liability insurance policy, and certain situations may result in a specific peril not being covered. To minimise coverage gaps, it’s always better to speak with your agent about the terms of your policy.

General Liability Insurance Cost

Flight schools in the United States typically pay between $450 and $1,000 per year for $1 million in general liability insurance.

The cost of your coverage will be determined by a number of variables. Among them are your:

Location

Deductible

Employees’ number

Per-occurrence restriction

The overall aggregate limit

You may be able to get general liability insurance at a lower cost if you buy it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a separate policy. A business interruption policy (BOP) is a more complete option that covers numerous types of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.

Other Types of Coverage Required by Flight Schools

While general liability insurance is the most crucial, there are various different types of coverage to be aware of. Other forms of insurance that all flight schools should have include as follows:

Insurance for Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation insurance is required in most states for both part-time and full-time employees. This coverage covers your workers if they are hurt at work or get sick as a result of a workplace accident. It covers not just an employee’s medical expenditures and missed pay if they need time off to recuperate, but also any disability or death benefits resulting from a work-related accident.

Insurance for Commercial Property

You made a significant investment to start your aviation school. Commercial property insurance would cover the expense of repairing or replacing your business-related property in the case of a fire, theft, or natural catastrophe. This covers structural damage to your building(s) and grounds, as well as structural damage to your aircraft, specialist equipment, and other business supplies.

Coverage Options for Some Flight Schools

In addition to the insurance listed above, your flight school may need other forms of coverage based on particular elements of your business. Some of them may not apply to you, so be sure to ask your agent whether policies are appropriate for your company.

Insurance for Commercial Vehicles

In the case of an accident, any car you use mainly for work needs commercial auto insurance to cover the vehicle, driver, and others on the road. Choose a policy that not only covers accident-related vehicle repair expenses and medical care for anybody harmed, but also provides enough coverage for any business documents you transport in your vehicle.

Umbrella Insurance for Businesses

While most claims are covered by your general liability insurance policy, certain incidents or lawsuits may be so severe that they threaten to deplete the limits of your main coverage. Commercial umbrella insurance protects you from having to pay for legal expenses and awarded damages that exceed the limits of your main policy out of pocket.

Additional Security Measures for Your Company

Although investing in company insurance is simple (and necessary), it should not be your first line of defence. Yes, insurance will reimburse your company for cash losses incurred as a result of an occurrence, but it is much preferable to avoid losses altogether.

With this in mind, here are a few steps you can take to better secure your company:

Make use of legally binding contracts and other business agreements. (We provide free templates for several of the most often used legal forms.)

To safeguard your personal assets, form a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. (To discover how to incorporate an LLC or company in your state, see our step-by-step tutorials.)

Keep your company licences up to date.

Streamline the internal procedures of your company. This will eliminate unneeded variables from routine activities and establish a secure, consistent environment in which to do business.

If your company is an LLC, you should check into LLC insurance.