Aviation Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

Aviation insurance requires a precise account of the activity being proposed. Explain whether the operation involves an aircraft, helicopter, drone or other aviation asset and whether it is used privately, commercially, for training or for a specialist service. Identify the owner, operator and any leasing or management arrangement. Describe the places where it operates, the people authorised to fly it and the work carried out for customers. Do not rely on a broad label such as aerial services if the actual activity includes inspection, photography, surveying or another specific task with different operating circumstances.

The aircraft’s use on the ground also deserves attention. Explain hangarage, transport where relevant, maintenance arrangements and movement by people other than the usual pilot or operator. Identify equipment carried or fitted for the service and property belonging to customers. Ask how the proposed aviation wording addresses physical damage, third-party liability, passengers where applicable and the stated operations. For drones, raise both the flying activity and any professional deliverable supplied to a client. A general business liability policy should not be assumed to address an aviation exposure, and the required aviation cover depends on the operation and selected terms.

Prepare an accurate asset schedule and the operating information requested by the insurer. This may involve aircraft details, modifications, maintenance history, pilot or operator experience and the geographical scope of use. Distinguish current qualifications and approvals from applications or training still underway. Keep records of who is authorised to operate each asset and how changes are managed. Use the appropriate aviation authority and specialist advisers for regulatory questions. An insurance proposal is not a substitute for confirming operational permissions, and holding a permission should not be treated as proof that a particular insurance policy covers every permitted activity.

Bring lease agreements, customer contracts, hangar arrangements and any specialist equipment hire terms to the review. Clarify who accepts responsibility for ground damage, maintenance, excesses and third-party property. For contracted aerial work, retain the agreed scope, location and deliverables, including limitations on how the client may rely on the output. Discuss indemnities and performance commitments before assuming they fit the insurance wording. Keep the values and interests of financiers or other owners clear. A certificate can show selected policy information, but the full arrangement must be reviewed to understand the operational conditions and exclusions that apply.

If an aviation incident occurs, prioritise safety and follow the applicable emergency and reporting arrangements with qualified guidance. Preserve flight or operating records, maintenance information and relevant communications without disturbing evidence or creating further risk. Contact the appropriate insurance representative promptly and discuss assessment, recovery and repair processes. Keep a factual chronology that distinguishes observations from preliminary theories. Do not commit to a liability settlement simply because a customer or property owner requests an immediate answer. Technical, regulatory and insurance processes may each be relevant, and their responsibilities should be coordinated by the appropriate people.

Before renewal, review changes in aircraft, equipment, operators, territory and the services supplied. New customer work or a different use of an existing asset should be raised before it begins. Consider how a grounded aircraft or unavailable specialist component would affect commitments and what practical alternatives exist. Ask about the policy’s conditions, declared uses and any relevant interruption or loss-of-use options rather than assuming they are included. The resulting review should reflect the current operation and its documented controls, with specialist advice used for aviation matters and no inference that insurance removes the need to manage operational risk.