Insurance for “Trail and Rejoin” To Be Available

Until recently COPA’s insurance Silver Wings and Gold Wings plans did not allow any coverage for “formation aerobatics”, but due to an agreement between COPA, Marsh Insurance and the program’s underwriters that has now changed.

This restriction is contained in the policy’s definition of “Private Business and Pleasure” which says that it “means the use of the aircraft for private, personal and pleasure purposes, or in connection with your business, but excludes the use of the aircraft for…(iii) formation flying involving any aerobatic maneuver”

A group of COPA members who fly warbirds pointed out to COPA that this restriction posed a problem for them. They are involved in the Swift and FAST formation flying training programs. Both these are well organized, well documented and well taught formation flying training programs, usually run in the USA. Canadian owners insured through the COPA insurance program could only participate in part of these programs – the non-aerobatic parts. A section of the programs teach “trail and rejoin” where the lead aircraft takes the wingman through a series of exercises that require in excess of  60 degrees of bank, making the procedure “formation aerobatics” as the insurance company defines it. This meant that Canadians couldn’t take full advantage of this safety training due to insurance restrictions.

The COPA members involved asked COPA staff member Adam Hunt to see if something could be done. After a meeting with Marsh and the underwriters in the summer of 2006 an agreement was reached to allow formation aerobatics as long as they are limited to “trail and rejoin” maneuvers flown as part of Swift or FAST training and subsequent practice. This change was possible because of the strong relationship that COPA has built up with their insurers, enabling them to have valuable discussions leading to positive decisions that are in the interests of safety.

The coverage for this will be in the form of an endorsement to the insurance policy when it is requested by the individual policy-holder. There will be an additional premium for the endorsement, determined via an individual quote. This new coverage will be available starting on January 1, 2007.

COPA is pleased to be able to expand the coverage offered by our insurance program to allow members to take part in the full range of FAST and Swift training and then later to practice these maneuvers. We think it makes for safer formation pilots.

Our thanks go to the formation-flying COPA members involved for bringing the matter to our attention and also to Marsh Canada and our underwriters, St Paul Travelers Syndicate at Lloyds of London, for being receptive to allowing coverage for this training.

For more information of the COPA aviation insurance Silver and Gold Wings plans please see the COPA website. To apply on-line for Silver Wings coverage please go to www.marsh.ca/copa