SmokeyTheBear wrote:

After hearing a similar statement from a pilot a few years ago, I asked AVEMCO if they covered off airport ops. Their response was that if it’s not specifically excluded in policy documents, it’s covered. None of my AVEMCO policies have included such an exclusion. I once asked Mike Adam’s, who was at the time President of AVEMCO, the same question. He said they cover off airport ops.

Like any insurer, after an accident, rates may go up…..but.

MTV

That's good to know. Thanks!

There is one factor that you need to verify with an amendment to almost any insurance policy. That is, if you plan to fly north of 60 degrees latitude (I think that's the magic number), you should have a specific amendment to that effect. I used to do that when I lived in Fairbanks, it was just a matter of informing the insurer that I would operate that far north, and they included it as an amendment. I never paid for that. Don't know if that's still a "thing" or not, though, but I always carefully READ my insurance policy documents.

MTV

mtv wrote:... I asked AVEMCO if they covered off airport ops. Their response was that if it’s not specifically excluded in policy documents, it’s covered. None of my AVEMCO policies have included such an exclusion....

I don't recall the underwriter, might or might not have been Avemco,
but at least one policy I had on my old C170 contained verbage to the effect that off-airport landings were only covered in the case of a declared emergency.
Note that it said "declared emegency", not just emergency.
I'm thinking there was too many claims from off-airport landings gone wrong,
which were after the fact described as a forced/emergency landing due to carb ice or whatever.

hotrod180 wrote:

mtv wrote:... I asked AVEMCO if they covered off airport ops. Their response was that if it’s not specifically excluded in policy documents, it’s covered. None of my AVEMCO policies have included such an exclusion....

I don't recall the underwriter, might or might not have been Avemco,
but at least one policy I had on my old C170 contained verbage to the effect that off-airport landings were only covered in the case of a declared emergency.
Note that it said "declared emegency", not just emergency.
I'm thinking there was too many claims from off-airport landings gone wrong,
which were after the fact described as a forced/emergency landing due to carb ice or whatever.

I've never seen that verbiage on an AVEMCO policy, but I once insured with another broker (in Alaska, on floats, wheels and skis AND doing instruction-AVEMCO said No Thank YOU!) that had a provision in their policy that said "All landings must be at a public airport" or words to that effect. I called them up and said...."Ummm, this is a SEAPLANE you've offered to insure.....landing only at AIRPORTS???" They amended the policy to approve off airport ops on floats, wheels, and skis.

Sometimes you just have to ask. I would also point out that was liability only policy.

MTV

mtv wrote:I once insured with another broker (in Alaska, on floats, wheels and skis AND doing instruction-AVEMCO said No Thank YOU!) that had a provision in their policy that said "All landings must be at a public airport"

Which is kind of nuts when you consider that Wilson Bar is a public airport, but is also a one way that you can't even see until you are about 200 yards from landing.

rw2 wrote:

mtv wrote:I once insured with another broker (in Alaska, on floats, wheels and skis AND doing instruction-AVEMCO said No Thank YOU!) that had a provision in their policy that said "All landings must be at a public airport"

Which is kind of nuts when you consider that Wilson Bar is a public airport, but is also a one way that you can't even see until you are about 200 yards from landing.

Yep, when it comes to insurance, don’t look for logic, look for “exclusions”.

MTV

My experience with Avemco is also that they don't have an exclusion for off-airport ops. However, their rates for AK reflect that they expect them. Actually, one of the drivers for high insurance costs in AK is the cost of recovery. Planes don't get piled up at a nice airport with full service maintenance facilities; they have to get helicoptered back in to where they get worked on.

As for territory exclusion, the basic Avemco policy excludes roughly north of the Arctic Circle (67 deg North), but a policy written for a plane based in AK includes the entire state.

Like MTV says, read your policy. And clarify anything with your agent.

Ross

As someone who purchased a Maule M-5-235 as their first plane with only 150 hours total time and 4hrs tail wheel I think buying a Maule is a great idea. Obviously getting a lot of dual time with a good tail wheel pilot is critical. I got about 12hrs before flying it across the country. It's made me so much better with stick and rudder skills and keeping ahead of the plane. That being said its one of the most costly planes to insure especially with low time.

I've had a good experience with Avemco. The only odd thing I had was they didn't allow me to specify the hull value. I had to go with their own appraised value which was lower than what I could have sold it for. They also have 5% discount available for completing FAA Wings course.