I had an 8 passenger van donated to the airport for a courtesy car. Called my insurance guy and he said "No way." Seems impossible to insure it for "anyone" to drive it. What do you other guys do?? I'm not there most of the time, but carry a cell phone so people could call me to use it an I could tell them where the key is hid, but what if they crash it and sue me?? Is the system so goofed up Im not going to be able to use it??

Call Betty Easley at Hawthorne. She has three airport cars parked there at KHTH, and all insured.

Gump

Wow...... Austin is going big time! Just need fuel now Oh wait, I know where to find fuel there

Coyote Ugly wrote:I had an 8 passenger van donated to the airport for a courtesy car. Called my insurance guy and he said "No way." Seems impossible to insure it for "anyone" to drive it. What do you other guys do?? I'm not there most of the time, but carry a cell phone so people could call me to use it an I could tell them where the key is hid, but what if they crash it and sue me?? Is the system so goofed up Im not going to be able to use it??

Just register it to Zane

Tim

Just register it to Zane

Not a bad idea!.... Or your X-wife, the local ambulance chaser, your mayor who is trying to shut down the airport.......
Zane, your in good company!

Dang... my ass is burnin'.

Shame on you Tim!! Your giving us 182 (Nosedraggers) a bad rap!!

It needs to be insured under an auto policy written on behalf of the FBO / airport as it will be property of the FBO / airport. Auto Owners insurance has done it from time to time, but it is not an easy coverage to place...insurance companies are a bit gun shy when they have no way to quantify the risk. If it was donated to you then you may consider insuring it for liability only, but any way you slice it I would insure it before you allow employees to drive it. If they have an accident on the clock it is a workers comp issue AND a liability issue for any third party bodily injury or property damage as they are using it in the scope of their job activities and as a representitive of the employer.

Brent Anderson should be able to help you out with this one...800-999-1109

Heck.................. That's easy......

1- leave the keys in it

2- mount a camera or two in it

3- contact a TV production company

Put a few promo's on the Discovery Channel for the new show.. !!!!!! coming this fall...!!!!!!

AIRPORT BAIT CAR......

I was looking for the courtesy car when I landed there on sunday... My GPS said there was one and also a restaurant in town and we were going to get lunch before camping out for the night. Was there ever a courtesey car in Austin or is this the first one?

Coyote Ugly wrote:I had an 8 passenger van donated to the airport for a courtesy car. Called my insurance guy and he said "No way." Seems impossible to insure it for "anyone" to drive it. What do you other guys do?? I'm not there most of the time, but carry a cell phone so people could call me to use it an I could tell them where the key is hid, but what if they crash it and sue me?? Is the system so goofed up Im not going to be able to use it??

I've "borrowed "Airport courtesy cars (trucks/vans etc) in lots of places I've landed .Put the Van key in "lock box " with combination . Put form in pilots lounge or hanger with sheet to be filled out by prospective "barrower " pilot . Have statement after you fill this form out (Drivers name,age, address , Insurance company -Cell phone # -approx destination) and when you should return .Have a phone number to call to get the "code" to open key box.You or someone else who they contact should have the code -after a few quick questions they will get the code for key." Write on the back in LARGE LETTERS of the car/van ? This is Airport Courtesy car -not to be outside of county of ??"". Emmit ,Idaho has this system -car is old Dodge 4 door -5 bucks or 10 bucks if you don't buy fuel .Garden Valley has a Red Chevy pickup -you need to get keys and forms from Caretaker > It's on the DRIVER to have proper Insurance to "rent " the airport wagon. Works for me.

robw56 wrote:I was looking for the courtesy car when I landed there on sunday... My GPS said there was one and also a restaurant in town and we were going to get lunch before camping out for the night. Was there ever a courtesey car in Austin or is this the first one?

Years ago we had a mechanic doing some work out there, and he let people use his vehicle to run to town, listed it in the flight guide etc., but there hasn't been one available for years.

I finally got this van running really good, all the lights and stuff working great, but am still trying to figure out how to proceed with registration and ins. Were looking into maybe titling it to the Lions Club and going that rout, but it's looking shaky too. Haven't had much luck talking to ins representatives about a good policy.

There are a couple of pretty good restaurants in town, I've been surviving off of them for many years.. ha ha. One makes a great big burger.

Most of the FBO's or courtesy car owners I've talked to just insure their cars in there names and loan the vehicle to a "friend". This is a bit different here, because no one is there a lot of the time, so.. Apparently the problem is not with the pilots who "borrow" vehicle, its with the other guy or their insurance co. in the case of an accident/law suit. Also, the "friend borrowing" deal is a great loophole for my insurance company to step out and leave you holding the bag, especially if he's not really a friend, or the vehicle is really being used by just about anyone, and they can prove it.

Waiver forms?? I guess just about any good attorney can rip them to pieces, they tell me, and they are also evidence that he wasn't a friend, cause you wouldn't require your friend to sign one just to borrow your car normally.

I'm still trying to get ahold of the number and agent that was recommended to me on here, but he's out of the office for a while.

I'd like to sort this out, because it would not only be great for pilots, but for the town, stores and restaurants here too. If we can get a policy that works, I also think I could get a bit of money from the county to support it a bit, maybe to pay the ins and license, especially if we did it through the Lions or Airport board. If we do anything through the county, or go exempt tag, only county employees can drive or ride in it.

I wondered about EAA or AOPA, but haven't gotten in a call to them yet.

Oh yea, I seriously think that the best way to do this so far is to find someone with no assets, give them the car and the money to license and insure it, then let them lend it out... ha ha

Coyote Ugly wrote:
I'm still trying to get ahold of the number and agent that was recommended to me on here, but he's out of the office for a while.

You might also try Frank Kimmel...different agency, but another good guy and old friend of mine...800-647-9397 Frank is a TW pilot with many thousand hours at the stick of various cropdusters, warbirds, and even the occasional spam can. LOL

How about one of the businesses in town? Or the town itself?

Flying 3500 miles of pipeline every week, I use courtesy cars at least twice a week. Most were from city airports and the car was an old police car that was still on city insurance. Those, mostly in the South, that were not city owned and insured were just there with the key under the mat. Nobody claimed any knowledge of them. It was a don't ask, don't tell kind of a deal. By the way, lawyers are not popular down south.

Do you even need insurance in the middle of nowhere? Come on, how many other vehicles will you even come close to on that road between the airport and town? Lucky if you see one! Jack pot if you see two or more

Besides, who in there right mind wants to fly to an airport in the middle of the NV desert wasteland?? Nothing to see folks, move along

Seems to me that all the times I've had a airport courtesy car you had to have your OWN car insurance to " borrow" and drive . Usually some kind of form to be filled out before you could get/find keys. I've had a few "airport bombers" that would make town from the airport and back, at 50 or so front end would start wobbling to keep the speed down . Pop's I'd paint the front and back with sign like " Airport CC Austin " since your already the judge no plates .

Pops I don't think you have much to worry about unless you see it parked out in front of one of your Austin saloons

Stopped in O'Neill, Nebraska, old cop cars were used for airport cars, with suitable security to prevent local joyrides, perhaps your police could put it on their policy?