Why are LSA insurance rates increasing?

After a number of years with relatively modest rates for aircraft insurance — at least for the more easily insured aircraft and operations — rates have increased, even for experienced pilots with good records.

What’s behind these rate increases?

To learn more, we reached out to one of the most Light-Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot kit aircraft-friendly insurance agencies, AIR, a fun abbreviation for Aviation Insurance Resources.

Thanks to rapid increases in technology over the last decade, insurance has become ever-more competitive.

“Ten years ago a quote for a Cessna 172 may have taken a day or two to receive all available quotes back,” said Victoria Neuville, an AIR agent, Commercial Pilot, and CFI. “Today most carriers can provide their quote within minutes.”

“With quoting becoming almost automated for many aircraft, insurance underwriters found themselves having to find new ways to stay competitive,” she added. “This meant broader policies, more flexible training requirements and, of course, a lower rate.”

These changes led insurance companies to what is called a “soft market.” Pilots and aviation business owners often benefited from flexible underwriting and record low premiums.

“Aviation underwriters were all competing for the same group of business and the way to win the account was to provide the lowest rate,” noted Gregg Ellsworth, a regional rep for Aviation Insurance Resources who specializes in Light-Sport Aircraft. “With these lower rates, however, the aviation industry didn’t experience any fewer losses, especially with the countless natural disasters experienced recently.”

As with any business, Gregg explained, “rates had to increase in accordance with the outgoing costs.”

Additionally, Victoria indicated major changes are normally seen every two to five years in the insurance market.

“After enjoying low rates for nearly 10 years, the aircraft insurance market is once again hardening due to poor loss ratios,” she observed. “Stricter training requirements are being implemented to increase aviation safety.”

“To mitigate the aviation insurance risk, many underwriters are now requiring stricter initial training if a pilot is new to the aircraft from an instructor experienced in that specific make and model,” Gregg added.

“Senior pilots have been greatly impacted in this hardening market, specifically those in retractable gear and multi-engine aircraft,” Victoria noted. “If a single engine piston fixed tricycle-gear aircraft can fit your aircraft needs, this will often result in a better rate and insurability on your aircraft insurance.”

Her advice seems nearly written to boost the LSA industry.

What Kind of Losses Are Driving Rates?

While I exclusively focus on the light aircraft industry, insurance for all aircraft segments play a role in establishing rates. Compared to automobiles, for example, aviation is a small market.

It may be worthwhile to look at what drives loss ratios higher.

According to Richard McSpadden, executive director of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute, the four most common causes of non-catastrophic incidents that increase rates are:

1. The most costly problem in general aviation aircraft is gear-up landings and gear collapses. This currently does not include any LSA, other than amphibious seaplanes.
2. Next is loss of directional control on the ground, including ground loops. McSpadden stated, “Although taildraggers are a strong contributor to overall insurance payouts in this category, the issue is not exclusive to taildraggers. Pilots lose control on the ground in nosewheel airplanes at a surprising rate.”
3. Hard landings came in third in the list of non-catastrophic accidents. Notably, flight into terrain and in-flight breakups are expensive but are so infrequent that they do not affect rates as significantly.
4. Ranking fourth in overall cost to insurers, but first in number of incidents, is prop strikes. Most pilots are aware that props are expensive and a prop strike means a costly examination by an aviation mechanic.

“Dramatic fatal accidents and liability aren’t the cost drivers contributing to rate hikes. It’s hull coverage,” McFadden added.

My own LSA insurance reflects this. Liability insurance is relatively cheap. It is hull coverage that accounts for most of the annual premium I recently paid — 87% of the total for an aircraft worth about $80,000.