Does anyone have insurance thru AOPA? I've had insurance thru AUA for 17 years & then started having issues with communication with several agents returning calls. I renewed a policy in August & then get a letter from the underwrighter that they arnt dong business with them any longer. Then when I tried to renew the other policy I called several times & finally found out they are out of business. Sold the books to AOPA & the new firm isn't licensed in WI... Ok...

After 2 weeks of phone tag with AOPA (agent only tried to call me back twice & missed his call, returned it immediately & he was AGAIN busy) I contacted another agency (Falcon). Talked to a nice guy there & he did some checking, he couldn't help me because the plane was insured thru AOPA. news to me, never spoken to anyone higher than a secretary! I figured ok they will contact me. Another month goes by & nothing. Today I call & finally talk to another agent. Yes I'm insured since November 28th, no she can't tell me what my premiums are, who the underwriter is, what limits I have, or if I'm going to be covered on floats in spring. Waiting to hear back now, sofar I'm not impressed.

I hope someone has had a favorable experience because it seems I'm stuck with them due to being locked out of finding another company.

I can only speak to my experience w/ AOPA Insurance and I have had very good luck with them. They have also quoted me some very good rates. I currently pay $803/year for a 1959 C-182B hull value $70k.

They have also quoted me some very good rates on a C-180 I was considering purchasing as a low time TW pilot.

My contact is Jeff Taylor 1-800-622-2672 (ext 166) or [email protected].

Good Luck - Dave

I also was using AUA insurance. Now that they are out of business I switch to a air power insurance. I have just been in touch with them in last few days but have been very impressed with the way they have handled my request. My insurance is set to expire the 13th. They have been in constant contact and done a good job renewing my policy.

http://www.airpowerinsurance.com/

They have provided me a lower rate than I previously had, and I have a good friend in the hanger next to me who got the same thing.

Travis helped me out.

Mike

I have some life insurance through them, haven't used it yet but I will be sure to let you know how it goes if I have a claim.

Sounds to me that you need to call AOPA Member Services and explain your issues with them. I'll bet they can get you some answers. Those policies make AOPA some$$ so member secession is going to be motivated to get you happy.

I've had great experience with Falcon and with AVEMCO. Your mileage may vary. If I couldn't even get them to tell me limits of coverage,what would they do if I had an accident??

MTV

Have covered my C182 several years now through AOPA. Service has been good. Rates go down each year. Paying less than $600 now for $50K hull. They asked how much was paid out on my Luscombe crash (covered through another agent). $20K. Thought my bill would go up.... instead it went down.
So, no complaints here. I think a couple more phone calls, and you should be getting some answers.
Good luck.

Another + for AOPA insurance. I check prices every year, but always end up staying with them.

Gump

Never had a problem with communications with Avemco, but I have not yet had to make a claim either, so who knows?

Avemco took a claim to appeals court for a farmer who volunteered at a charity ride event.
He died... his wife lost everything in time. Their clever lawyers turned it into a commercial use and denied payment. Just because a small donation changed hands. Bastards ruined his wife's life over a technicality. Will never do business with them. You can Google the case and read about it if interested. Was a number of years back. Passengers died too. Truck pulled out in front of path on landing...

I've got AOPA Insurance and have no complaints. Every year I've been with them my rate went down. They've been very responsive whenever I've called them to ask a question.

I use AOPA and have nothing but good to say. I've had a claim and they took care of me. They like to do alot of there work through email you can ask for the binder that way.

Avemco took a claim to appeals court for a farmer who volunteered at a charity ride event.
He died... his wife lost everything in time.

I've been looking for this case on Google without success--found several cases in which Avemco was a party, but not this one. Do you have more particulars? Like when and where would be helpful.

Cary

thanks for the input, sounds like they are a decent outfit, just a bad set of circumstances in my case.

ill wait a few more days to see if i hear back from them? if not i will call "member services" as mike said, im no longer a member so im not sure how far that will get me.

It took me a while with Google this morning to find the proper link. But, I like a challenge.
I could not remember who was the plaintiff in the case.
You can follow the info below, to read about the case.
It clearly shows a "reuptable" company trying to avoid paying for claims, base on a thin argument that the pilot was engaged in commercial operations.
Each of us should look carefully at this outcome. When we volunteer to do something... it is usually with good intentions. No profit or financial motive. After a certain age, when we have amased some assets and personal property... and owe an obligation to a spouse or family, it is a lurking reality that a morally bankrupt attorney will be happy to put that pie in his account.
The laws and courts are too complicated for lay people to understand. What seems like a simple act of kindness or charity, can soon turn into a life long nightmare.
Legal challenges like this leave me with a bad taste... and I won't do business with them.
Regards,
Flightlogic

Avemco Insurance Company v. Auburn Flying Service, Inc. Ruth Norvell, Personal Representative of the Estate of Fred E. Farington, Deceased Brian L. Smith, Co-Personal Representative of the Estate of Vera Mae Smith, Deceased Janelle Briner, Co-Personal Representative of the Estate of Vera Mae Smith, Deceased Laverne Norvell, Personal Representative of the Estate of Augusta Norvell, Deceased Edward Drillon Cheryl Bevirt, Personal Representative of the Estate of Edward Debourbon, Deceased, Intervenors/defendants, 242


CourtListener.com / Cases / Avemco Insurance Company v. Auburn ...courtlistener.com/.../avemco-insurance-company-v-auburn-flying-ser...Cached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. ... judgment action to determine if coverage for an accident existed under a noncommercial aviation policy it had ..... Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the district court.

These guys will treat you well.

http://www.southwestaviation.com/

I used AOPA when I first bought my Maule....they had a realistic rate for a new Maule owner and could put a policy in place quickly. I have since changed insurance companies for basic pricing, but I was very pleased with their service.
Don

Just read the case--thanks for the info to find it.

As an attorney, had I been involved in the case, I'd have predicted the result exactly as the Court decided it. In fact, the pilot charged a fee to take passengers for a short ride at a local fly-in, and he pocketed the money. Although what he charged might not have covered his expenses of operation, there was no sharing of operational expenses, simply charging for providing rides. Pretty clearly, that fell within the policy's definition of commercial use, which was not covered by this particular policy.

Whenever you charge others for the use of your airplane, you risk that you're into commercial use--and remember that it doesn't matter whether the FAA considers it to be commercial for the insurance company to decide otherwise--it's the language of the policy which determines coverage (although under the circumstances here, I think it was a commercial operation under the FARs as well). The lesson here is not to castigate the insurance company for doing its job, which is to pay only those claims which come within its policy terms, but to make sure that whatever you intend to do does come within your own policy's terms. If you're not sure, ask, and get the answer in writing directly from the insurance company, not from your agent, who may or may not have the authority to bind the company.

It doesn't matter whether the policy is written by Avemco, AOPA, AIG, Falcon, Ranger, or any of the other aviation insurors out there. The Avemco vs. Auburn case contains citations to a number of other cases involving other insurance companies, and the issues were the same, i.e., what are the policy's terms, and do the circumstances come within them or not. I'd be willing to bet that every aviation insurance company has been involved in similar cases. Best to be sure, or risk your own name being part of some appellate court decision down the road.

Cary

Yeah, the minute $$$ changes hands for a ride, the rules change. What a world of hurt for some chump change gas money.

Gump

The pilot died as a result of the crash.
I don't think any money stayed in his pocket very long.
The widow lost their home and savings.
You are no doubt correct, in that most insurance companies will try to dodge a claim, if sizable.
This particular case just really bugged me.
Sorry about any personal sentiment that reflects on lawyers....

The pilot died as a result of the crash.
I don't think any gas money stayed in his pocket very long.
The widow lost their home and savings.
You are no doubt correct, in that most insurance companies will try to dodge a claim, if sizable.
This particular case just really bugged me.
Sorry about any personal sentiment that reflects on lawyers....