Recommendations for Insurance for new operators?

[Bob]

I have just recently obtained my part 107 and I will be making some videos for a few friends in the real estate business. I was wondering about insurance since this will not actually be a full time career (I don't think). Is it better to get yearly coverage, or is there options such as per job? I would obviously like to keep initial costs as low as possible and see what happens with my little business venture.

 

[BigAl07]

Hit @AviationBroker (his name is Joe) up. His contact information is in the link below:
Best Drone For Commercial Use

 

[Dave Pitman]

If just starting out, you may consider the Verify platform. For full time coverage that insures the Remote Pilot instead of the # of uav's you have, take a look at the policy offered by the AMA.

 

[MtManDavey]

After doing some research in No. California and beyond for liability and other coverage insurance plan, I finally signed up with AOPA. Cost was not much different than the few other companies willing to insure my P4P for commercial use, and AOPA is a very overall reliable organization. We'll see within a year how the industry and insurance for this industry shakes out.

 

[Russ Still]

Here's a webinar recording that goes over insurance for drone pilots in real detail.

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[AviationBroker]

@Russ Still - Is this webinar for the AMA coverage?

 

[Russ Still]

@Russ Still - Is this webinar for the AMA coverage?

The webinar is informational and not for any particular provider coverage (although Evan Garmon is an insurance agent and would probably love to have your business).

 

[Dave Pitman]

@Russ Still Thanks for the webinar !

@Russ Still - Is this webinar for the AMA coverage?

In the webinar, Evan presents an overview of uav policies and terms. He does discuss the AMA policy toward the end. He says he mostly writes policies for Global but says the "named pilot" approach of the AMA policy is less expensive, especially for single ops with multiple uavs. He did not know any details about possible exclusions within the policy.

 

[Anokadrone]

Well after a year and a half of preparation and testing, etc. I finally pulled the trigger on the Global Aeronautics (through AOPA) insurance for my single drone operation. Now I am working on the State of MN commercial aircraft registration. Another couple of weeks I figure and I can fly for hire.

 

[AviationBroker]

@Anokadrone - Congratulations! Global Aerospace is the best UAS insurance company out there by far. Their knowledge of the UAS industry, coverage, and claims handling are untouchable.

Thanks,

Joe Ernster
[email protected]
Get A Free Commercial UAS Insurance Quote Now!

 

[Anokadrone]

I feel good about the decision to go annual with them. Hull included for a year at $723. $1,000,000 liability is a start I guess.

 

[kattz]

I went with PAP coverage for drone and liability from State Farm. It's $40 a month, $2M in liability, property damage, and injury, and full coverage on the drone in case of crash, theft, fire, or loss. $500 deductible.

 

[AviationBroker]

@kattz - isn't a "PAP" policy a personal automobile policy? If not, please forgive my ignorance, I am an aviation specific insurance broker that specializes in commercial UAS insurance.

Joe Ernster
Bullock Agency, Inc.
[email protected]
Get an Online Commercial UAS Insurance Quote Now!

 

[kattz]

No, it's a rider on a homeowner's policy that provides supplemental coverage for high-dollar items. "Personal Articles Protection". I can understand the confusion.

So I have three of these now. One for my camera equipment, one for my telescope and observatory, and one for my Inspire 1.

 

[AviationBroker]

@kattz - very interesting. Embarrassingly enough, I do not even read my own homeowner's policies. I read aviation insurance policies all day and am too burned out on insurance by the time I get home. Does this PAP policy cover the commercial use of your UAS?

Joe Ernster
Bullock Agency, Inc.
[email protected]
Get an Online Commercial UAS Insurance Quote Now!

 

[kattz]

They didn't ask me to specify. I would imagine that in most cases such as industrial or agricultural operations, an operator would require a different kind of policy such as you provide. I don't fly for money, but if you post any pictures taken from a drone on YouTube, Facebook, etc, even though you're not getting paid, the FAA considers that for entertainment, and you require a Part 107 cert to perform said activities. Took them three days to mail me a letter requesting proof of a 107 or shut down my YouTube site. So I shut down the site until I get my 107.

That's also the reason I'm signed up on this forum - to find out about 107 operations as much as possible. It's not really discussed in depth on the Inspire Pilots page and I need to know.

Cheers,

Kev

 

[AviationBroker]

@kattz - Thank you for the information. This is very good to know! I like to be as knowledgeable as possible in this realm.

Joe Ernster
Bullock Agency, Inc.
[email protected]
Get an Online Commercial UAS Insurance Quote Now!

 

[PatR]

A PAP policy rider likely won’t cover a commercial operation. A 107 operator would be wise to look into a true aviation policy.

While they are at it they might consider looking into commercial coverage for their automobile. Your personal auto insurance will not cover accidents or losses when the vehicle is being used for commercial/business activities.

 

[Marlene Lebel]

I just signed up. Thanks for everyone's helpful information on this topic.

 

[adm_geomatics]

Most private insurance agents can provide this now, but it depends on how serious you are about making drones your occupation. I use Verify when I do my own side jobs with my drone, but for the company I work for it is just another liability policy with the insurance agency they already had. When thinking drone insurance it would be smart to err on the side of caution as if you are expecting to get sued and not just recovering from an accident or theft. Make sure your agent can go legal quickly.