The Binder | Vol. 47 No. 4 | Winter 2022

The Year that Was

GREG STERLING, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, AIG AEROSPACE aia president 2021–2023

With the holidays quickly approaching, allow me to begin by wishing you and yours a sincere “Season’s Greetings!” As we “turn final” on 2022, I’d like to share my view from the left seat with a recap on the year for your AIA, and may I just say, “What a Year it was!”

Your AIA began the year as we all did: still dealing with the lingering effects of the pandemic. In January, many scheduled industry conferences were still being cancelled (often at the last minute) due to travel restrictions and concerns. At the same time we began the “takeoff checklist” for what we hoped would be our first AIA conference in three years in Nashville. As conference registration opened, every AIA Board member had their fingers crossed in the hopes that the health of the world and the travel policies of our membership would allow us to proceed. We held our breath a bit, but in true AIA fashion, the membership’s response was resoundingly positive.

In the lead-up to AIA 2022, we hosted several educational opportunities. First, the AIA kicked off the Hot Topics series in early January.

Passengers Gone Wild presented by Mark Dombroff, Karie Lardon, and Sherry Ortiz delivered a not so tongue-in-cheek review of current cabin calamities. In February, our Education Committee, led by Tim Bonnell, Jr., presented the year ’ s first Core Principles and Concepts course. Then in March we proudly participated in and sponsored the Aviation Law Symposium at SMU.

By second quarter, all eyes were on Nashville and our 2022 AIA Convention, which by every measure will go down as one of our most memorable conferences. Over 500 attendees enjoyed the sights and sounds of Music City USA. The generous support of our many conference sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors not only made AIA 2022 possible, but by every measure, a resounding success.

Highlights included learning from an allstar lineup of CLE, CIE, and keynote speakers; honoring industry veteran and past AIA President Frank Kimmel III with our highest honor, the Pinnacle Award; inducting a new class of well-deserving members into the AIA Eagle Society; and enjoying a special performance by your very own Smooth Limits band, among others.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

New this year, we recognized members for their years of continuous membership and support with our new AIA milestone lapel pins. Wear them with pride!

At the conference, we also welcomed five new AIA Board Members:

R affael la Basile — Director, Reinsurance Division

David Gourgeus — Director, Claims Division

Jeff Sutton — Director-Elect, Underwriter Division Andy Trundle — International Director

Dave Watts — International Director-at-Large

Together with our continuing Directors these individuals are true “Top Guns” of their craft and bring a wealth of talent and experience to our Board. Interested in learning more about your new Board members? Have a look back at my column entitled “Dream Team” in the second quarter 2022 Binder for a profile on these amazing folks.

The third quarter began with another outstanding Hot Topics presentation on the International and Reinsurance markets.

Delivered by AIA Directors Raffaella Basile and Andy Trundle, this topic was especially timely as the war in Ukraine and the actions of the Russian Federation continue to be front of mind in our market.

In August, the AIA hosted two educational courses. The Core Principles course was again presented to a full house in Chicago. We piloted a new, halfday Introduction to Aviation Insurance course in Atlanta to deservedly rave reviews and look forward to offering it to the wider membership beginning in 2023.

Finally, we finished the third quarter in September under the smile of the weather Gods with the AIA Open at Bear’s Best Golf Course in Atlanta. Under perfect skies more than 70 members enjoyed a day of golf, networking, and industry camaraderie.

While 2022 may have been winding down in the fourth quarter, the AIA was finishing the year with a flurry of activity:

We closed the books on our 2022 fiscal year in solid financial condition and approved the 2023 budget during our November Board meeting, with the same focus on delivering top benefits and services to our members.

T he agenda for the 2023 AIA Convention in Tucson, AZ is coming together well with registration scheduled to open in January 2023. Preliminary plans for 2024 in New Orleans and site selection for our 2025 conference will commence shortly.

“Together with our continuing Directors these individuals are true “Top Guns” of their craft and bring a wealth of talent and experience to our Board”

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

For more on The Year That Was and some great photographs and memories, please see the “2022: A Year in Review” article further on in this quarter’s Binder

For now (and since we’re in the middle of my favorite time of year, American Football Season), I’ll leave you with this closing thought:

As any coach will assure you, If you want to win you have to play hard for a full four quarters. I’m so grateful for and humbled by not only what I see on this year’s “scoreboard,” but also on how your AIA team continues to play until the whistle. I’d like to thank our Board, our many Committee members, our Associations International team, and the countless volunteers who all gave so

selflessly of their time and talent this year. Each continues to do amazing work, delivering outstanding value for your membership dollar, and positioning your AIA for another successful year as the voice of aviation insurance.

Fair skies, tailwinds, and happy holidays.

Greg Sterling is senior vice president and product line manager for light aircraft and U.S. airports for AIG Aerospace. An instrument-rated private pilot, his aviation insurance career spans more than 35 years in various roles. He assumed the position of AIA president in 2021.

agent/broker Division

Benchmarking

David Hampson, CPCU, ARM, CAIP, President, Schrager Hampson Aviation Insurance Group LLC AIA Director, Agent/Broker Division

During my tenure as an AIA Director, I’ve been passionate about starting an agency benchmarking project. For those who are in a position of leadership, ownership, and/or management of your firm, it can be lonely at the top, particularly when there are no good peer metrics to measure the performance of you and your firm against.

I know several insurance organizations that compile and publish good benchmarking data. However, these statistics are compiled from mostly generalist insurance agencies which, while having commonalities, are not always directly pertinent to the niche nature of what we do as aviation specialists.

Some ways I believe aviation insurance firms are different from the “insure everything including the kitchen sink” general agencies include higher EBITDA margins (Earnings Before Income Taxes Depreciation and Amortization), higher revenue per employee ratios, lower policy counts, higher average revenue per policy, predominately agency bill policies and subsequently a higher percentage of premium financed business.

Many small to medium size aviation insurance brokerages have also been built around the relationships and goodwill of one or two principal owner / operators to a greater extent than generalist agencies, which can make “key man” or “key woman” matters an important consideration for better or for worse.

Planning for perpetuation in a specialized industry segment like aviation insurance can be particularly challenging if you don’t have an opportunity to pass the torch internally.

There’s a limited pool of people who have the grit to take on the financial risk of investing in an agency as well as the right mix of aviation and insurance knowledge and expertise.

However, in recent years, lack of perpetuation planning hasn’t been much of an issue for aviation insurance firms given the amount of money being invested by private equity groups, the low cost of leveraged capital, and agency valuation multiples at all time highs.

Like the distorted aircraft market where an old beat-up Cessna Skyhawk is now selling for six figures, no one can predict how long it will last.

Given the cat is now out of the bag with respect to the strength of the insurance agency/brokerage business model, I’d be willing to wager a $100,000 Skyhawk that insurance agency valuations for efficiently run firms with consistent growth will remain high for the foreseeable future.

Without good data to benchmark against, though, how can you know what changes need to be made to maximize the value of your agency?

These are all questions that can be answered with good, relevant peer benchmarking data. According to the American Productivity and Quality Center — a world authority in best practices, process and performance improvement — benchmarking is “the process of measuring key business metrics and practices and comparing them within business areas or against a competitor, industry peers or other companies around the world to understand how and where the organization needs to change in order to improve performance.”

In what areas are you lacking efficiency? Is profit margin in line with your peers?

Even profit margins too high can provide insight that you may not be investing enough to grow your firm, particularly if high profit margins are coupled with low growth.

Benchmarking also helps firms stay abreast of the most current industry trends and modernize their business models as the world changes.

Soon we will be introducing our agent and broker members to the third-party management consulting firm MarshBerry, which has been gathering market intelligence and performance benchmarking data for insurance agencies and brokerages across the country for many years. This data is collected with strict confidentiality and non-disclosure, producing results that allow firms to compare their individual data against broad percentile bands.

For AIA members, MarshBerry is offering a “financial snapshot” for participating firms that will allow them to compare their metrics against the average and top 25% of firms in our association, and also on a nationwide basis against all types of insurance agencies. A lackluster response where one outlier can skew the data will not provide any meaningful information we can benchmark against within our aviation insurance sector.

To encourage participation, MarshBerry has agreed to offer a 20% discount on their standard rates if at least 20 participate. We will be sending out more details on cost per firm and the process via email to our agent / broker members soon.

In an industry as small as ours, its human nature to hold things close to the vest. I’ve observed that same tendency among other subsectors of the general aviation industry such as flight schools, FBOs and charter operators. While transparency can make one feel vulnerable and be uncomfortable at first, there is so much we can gain collectively by sharing that I think the benefit far outweighs the discomfort, especially with anonymous data collection where there may be perceived risk, but actual risk is close to nil.

I hope you will consider joining our firm in what I hope to make an annual tradition of benchmarking. Over time, those who participate will be able to track historical trends and impute meaning from that as well. Most importantly, we can each use this data as the foundation for a process of internal reflection as we seek to consistently grow, evolve, and create value for the stakeholders we serve including our clients, our employees, and our families. By learning to always run your business like you are preparing to sell it, it will mean you never have to!

David Hampson is President of Schrager Hampson Aviation Insurance Group and is Directorship Certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors. He is also an active instrument-rated commercial pilot and FAA Safety Team Representative with the Boston FSDO.

How much can an elephant eat?

Wes Collier, Sr. Vice President, Pleasure & Business Underwriting, Old Republic Aerospace AIA Director, Underwriter Division

The past few years have seen a rebound in rates after a prolonged period of decline, only to find a new elephant in the room… inflation. The aviation insurance industry is not immune to the recent inflationary pressures we’ve all been experiencing. So how does this impact the insurance premiums for policyholders and the bottom line for insurance carriers and reinsurers? With inflation eroding the buying power of money, collected premiums won’t go as far as they used to.

Inflation from All Sides

Aside from inflationary effects on the cost of claims, insurance companies have experienced the same elevated costs of goods, energy, and personnel as all other businesses and thus face increased operating costs just to keep the lights on and the doors open. “Loss Cost” inflation initially manifested itself through parts shortages, supply chain constraints, and a shortage of workers due to the pandemic. All those challenges are now exacerbated by the rising general inflationary pressures.

To preserve loss ratios, carriers must carefully monitor and take into consideration loss cost inflation, which in some instances is higher than general inflation due to certain supply chain challenges unique to the aviation industry.

At first glance, it might appear that these inflationary pressures are partially offset by higher premiums associated with the recent appreciation of hull values. However, those higher hull values generally come with a slightly lower rate per hundred dollars of insured value; thus the rate of exposure growth outpaces the rate of premium growth. The only silver lining in this whole equation is that the value of salvage is increasing as well. However, this is not enough to counter all of the inflationary pressures present in today’s environment. Total losses on these elevated values combined with the rising cost of partial loss repairs (parts, labor and cost of substitute aircraft) will likely cause hull premiums to continue to rise for companies to maintain underwriting profitability.

Nuclear Verdicts Increasing

But what about liability claims? Well, that’s the second elephant in the room. Social inflation concerns the increased cost of claims arising from extraordinarily severe judgments, commonly known as nuclear verdicts. These verdicts were once rare but are now occurring at an alarming rate. Recent years have seen multiple nuclear verdicts in a single year.

The Russian Factor

Third party litigation funding is contributing to these large awards becoming more and more prevalent, and seemingly ever larger. With litigation funding companies willing to gamble large cash outlays for a share of the award, plaintiff attorneys are now much more willing to take a case to trial and make astonishing opening demands. And why not? It’s like a “hot” craps table at a casino with investors backing the bet…and they want to profit.

The market has no doubt benefited from the hardening rate environment the past few years, but a multitude of challenges loom ahead that will place pressure on the combined ratios of insurance companies and upward pressure on premiums for policyholders. Supply chain and worker shortage issues continue to linger, and general inflation appears to be with us for at least the near term. And yet there is one additional elephant we can all see on the horizon. Reserves have yet to be posted (at the time of this writing) for Russia’s confiscation of billions of dollars in aviation assets. That elephant and its appetite are of a magnitude that is hard to fathom.

Wes Collier is senior vice president and product line manager for light aircraft at Old Republic Aerospace. Holding an Airline Transport Pilot rating, his aviation career spans more than 15 years in various roles. He assumed the position of AIA Director of Underwriters in 2020.

Women in the industry: marilena sharpell

Nicole Wolfe Stout, Partner, Strawinski & Stout, P.C. AIA Director-at-Large

What did you dream of doing when you were growing up?

I always wanted to be in advertising. I love the creativity and ingenuity in slogans and jingles.

Name: Marilena Sharpell

Title: Senior Vice President

Company: Global Aerospace, Inc.

Location: Morris Plains, NJ, USA

Years in the industry: 37

How did you get started in the aviation insurance industry? What was your first job?

I started in 1985 at a privately-owned aviation insurance agency, Alpha Aviation. At that time it was just a clerical job as I was going to school in the evenings.

To make a little more money, I earned my broker’s license in 1988 and moved over to aviation underwriting in 1992, where I’ve been ever since.

Did you have any mentors when you first started out?

Frank Brown (the owner of Alpha Aviation) and Debbie Floyd. Frank took a great interest in his employees and always inspired us to be the best that we could be. Debbie was my first boss and I learned a lot from her.

The AIA is pleased to introduce this series featuring women in the aviation insurance industry. Led by AIA Board member and Director-at-Large Nicole Wolfe Stout, interviewees will represent all facets of aviation insurance.

What is the biggest factor that helped you be successful?

Building strong relationships, both internal and external. Understanding people and what motivates them is critical to success. I always found a way to understand the “why” in business dealings and processes to question the status quo.

As a woman, what has been the most significant barrier or challenge you’ve encountered thus far in your career?

Our industry looked very different 37 years ago. Early on in my career, as a young woman, I wasn’t always taken seriously, especially since I wasn’t a pilot. I had to find a way to connect with every generation, even those that had difficulty recognizing and accepting that I was in the room.

Can you identify one or two “value- added” perspectives unique to women that they bring to your business?

Well, I may be somewhat unique in this sense, but I never looked at it as women and men. I think if you are passionate about what you do and strive to excel, things will

work out in the end. I do think that mothers in general have a great deal of empathy, patience and great listening skills. As a mother of a special needs child, I learned how to understand differences in people and value what each person can individually contribute to the organization. Leveraging those differences was a big factor in my managerial success.

How do you balance work and life responsibilities?

Time with your children and your family can be limited based on the roles and responsibilities of your job. I always made

sure that when I was home, I was home. I limited the work distractions to only emergencies and kept the focus on my family. I also planned out the school year on my calendar to block out important dates to be at as many events as I could (school concerts, plays, back to school night, etc.). I also did the same for critical work events on the home calendar (such as conventions and meetings).

What is one of your most memorable experiences in the industry so far?

Conducting a presentation to a Fortune 100 company (top 10). There were a dozen lawyers in the room along with risk management. At the end of my presentation, the prospect asked me a series of questions, some of which I had never been asked in my then 27-year career. Rather than trying to stumble my way through the answers, I was honest and told them that rather than guess, I would prefer to go back to my office and consult with other team members to be sure I addressed their questions properly

We followed up with a conference call that contained several Global team members. We addressed their questions as a team and ultimately won the business.

How do you see the roles of women in your business changing over the next five to ten years?

Hopefully gender pay gaps will disappear and business will truly become a meritocracy. In my mind, gender doesn’t matter.

Do you have any suggestions on how the AIA can support women in our industry?

When I think of AIA, I think of education and networking. I think both of those are elemental to career success. Encouraging women to take full advantage of those opportunities will go a long way. I would like to see more coaching and mentoring for everyone, including women.

As a leader, if you could give one piece of advice to a young woman starting her career what would it be?

Listen more than you speak. Ask questions even after someone has asked you a question. Don’t be so quick to answer.

A good leader listens and understands why they’re being asked the question. Give recognition when recognition is due. Surround yourself with good people and know when to bring in resources for success. You are there to lead, not to do the entire job yourself.

Encourage innovation and seek solutions from your team. Lastly, as a minority in this business, and let’s face it, women are still a minority, don’t try to overcompensate and feel like you have to prove something just because you are a woman. Act like you belong, because you do.

Nicole Wolfe Stout leads the AIA Women’s Initiative and interviews women in aviation for this series. She has served on the AIA Board of Directors in several capacities, including her current role as Director-at-Large. Nicole is a partner at the law firm of Strawinski & Stout, P.C.

PREVIEW

AIA in Tucson

2023 AIA Conference // May 5–8, 2023

The Aviation Insurance Association is the place to make the connections that matter. In addition to the knowledge you’ll gain from the education sessions, the available networking opportunities truly make this conference the place to be for those working in the aviation insurance industry.

This is the one time each year when every facet of the industry are together at once. It is your opportunity to reawaken old acquaintances, build new relationships and expand your business.

The 2023 AIA Annual Conference is the best venue to trade experiences, create business partnerships, and analyze the current state of the industry from each segment of the association. Network with your peers over cocktails during the opening reception and learn what is to come for the aviation insurance industry during the general education sessions.

Registration for the 2023 AIA Annual Conference opens next month, so renew your dues by December 31 to receive a significant discount on registration as an AIA Member.

FRIDAY, MAY 5

1:00–5:00 PM

2023 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

2023 aia Conference Schedule at a Glance

Continuing Legal Education Sessions

5:00–6:30 PM Women’s Initiative Happy Hour

SATURDAY, MAY 6

7:30 AM–1:00 PM Sporting Clays Tournament

7:30 AM–1:00 PM Golf Tournament

5:30–6:00 PM New Member / First-Timer Reception

6:00–7:30 PM Welcome Reception

SUNDAY, MAY 7

8:00 AM–12:00 PM

Continuing Insurance Education Sessions*

1:00–5:00 PM Continuing Insurance Education Sessions*

MONDAY, MAY 8

8:00–9:00 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM–1:30 PM General Session and Keynote Luncheon

2:00–3:00 PM Division Meetings and Elections

2:30–4:00 PM Queuing Up at AIA

6:00–9:00 PM Closing Party at Pima

*Note. You must attend the morning and afternoon sessions to receive the eight hours of CIE credit.

About Tucson

Surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson, Arizona, welcomes visitors to a city bursting with natural beauty, vibrant nightlife, and cultural experiences. Known for its southwestern cuisine, Tucson is the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the U.S. Tucson is quickly becoming one of the most innovative business centers in the country. The city is ranked as one of the top five areas in the U.S. for aerospace and defense industries. Through the Tucson International Airport, Tucson is well-connected to the world with just a one-stop connection away from more than 325 destinations around the world. Visit www.visittucson.org to discover what awaits you in Tucson, including must-dos, hidden gems, and much more.

2023 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Conference Highlights

Welcome Reception

The Welcome Reception is your first opportunity at the AIA Conference to engage professionals from all facets of the aviation insurance industry. Hosted on the Salud Terrace with beautiful views of the mountains, the reception provides a relaxed atmosphere to reconnect with old acquaintances and build relationships with new industry professionals.

Super-Star Speakers

Each year, our slate of thought leaders and industry experts share their expertise and insights with the AIA attendees. Sessions focus on relevant topics impacting a wide crosssection of the aviation insurance industry with up to four hours of Continuing Legal Education and eight hours of Continuing Insurance Education available.

Queuing Up at AIA

Queuing Up features a unique speed networking format, allowing agents and brokers to meet multiple insurance company underwriters in a neutral setting. Participating underwriting companies host a station and brokers rotate through the stations to fill a slip signed by each carrier. Discuss market conditions, hear their viewpoints on what’s ahead, and exchange business cards while you build valuable relationships. Participants must queue up and use time wisely to ensure they complete their slip and are eligible for a prize.

Closing Party at Pima

Join us on Monday, May 8, for our Closing Party at the Pima Air & Space Museum. Enjoy an evening full of dancing and fun surrounded by beautifully restored aircraft including an F-4 Phantom II in Thunderbird markings, F-14 Tomcat, and Blue Angels F-11 Tiger in the main hangar. A live band, great food and cold beverages will offer an unforgettable night. We’ll also enjoy a few tunes from our very own AIA band, Smooth Limits!

2023 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Host Hotel

The 2023 AIA Conference will take place at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa. Known for comfort, luxury, and southwestern charm, the resort offers a distinctive space to learn, conduct business, and network with your peers. In addition to its well-appointed rooms and suites, the hotel offers several on-property restaurants featuring varying cuisines.

The conference will be using nearly all the hotel’s event space and guest rooms, meaning even more opportunities for connecting and learning. The AIA has secured a special guest room rate that will only be available when conference registration is confirmed.

Enjoy an authentic southwestern experience with several unique activities offered by the JW Marriott, such as a daily Mitakuye Oyasin morning ritual, guided morning hike, and nightly tequila toast at sunset. All of these are included in your resort fee and scheduled through the hotel concierge.

Bonus Activities

Attendees will have opportunities to participate in AIA-hosted and Marriott-hosted lively activities throughout their time in Tucson. The AIA will once again host a Golf Tournament as well as a Sporting Clays Tournament on Saturday, May 6. The resort offers an ample array of daily activities. Final details and schedules will be released in late April.

Education outside the box

AIA’s Core Principles Course is a Valuable Commodity, Even for Attorneys

McGrory, Partner,

LLC AIA Director, Attorney Division

The way AIA is organized in role-based divisions allows ample opportunities to share knowledge and build relationships among like-minded peers. This is of tremendous value to the Attorney Division in particular since referrals from friends can be a significant source of business. A drawback to this style of organization, though, is the risk of siloization. (If it’s not a real word, it should be). To be sure, AIA offers programming and events designed for its full membership. But understandably the lawyers are drawn more to the continuing legal education offerings and the brokers and insurers are drawn more to the continuing insurance education offerings. As a result, each division may not have a full understanding of what other divisions are doing.

Coming from the Attorney Division, I had a general sense of what the Certified Aviation Insurance Professional (CAIP) designation is, but did not fully appreciate the education, experience, and effort required to achieve it.

This summer, I had the opportunity to learn a lot more when my firm hosted AIA’s Aviation Insurance Core Principles and Concepts course in Chicago. This twoday long course, followed by an exam, is a prerequisite for the CAIP designation. I did not attend the entire class but spent enough time observing to come away very impressed by the depth, breadth, and complexity of the content. Equally impressive was the instruction from Tim Bonnell Jr. and Doug Johnson. They covered virtually every topic and sub-topic I could think of: industry history, safety management, contractual liability, hull and liability policies, war coverage, workers’ compensation, etc.

I’m glad I don’t have to take the test. I’m sure it’s a bear. Some students attended remotely, but it was heartening to see many attend in person. They ran the gamut of AIA’s membership. There were even a couple attorneys who came to Chicago for the course. The students were engaged and diligent, and hopefully enjoyed the material and opportunity to meet colleagues from around the country.

Michael

Amundsen Davis,

I have served on AIA’s Education Committee for more than a decade and may be a bit more familiar with Core Principles than most attorney members. But this was an eyeopening experience. AIA’s attorneys should be aware of the high-quality content AIA offers and know how hard our CAIP members had to work to achieve the designation. This course is an AIA gem.

Mike McGrory is co-chair of Amundsen Davis’s Aerospace Practice Group in Chicago, where he represents all variety of aviation industry businesses in tort and commercial litigation.

Caleb Winterburn on being a Pilot, Broker, and Aviation Insurance Educator

At age 18, when most of my peers were finishing up high school or just starting university, I found myself in less-than-ideal circumstances, without a home or a job, and sleeping on my future father-in-law’s sofa. But this story has a happy ending, in large part thanks to the career I found in the aviation insurance industry. I had no idea at the time how aviation insurance would profoundly influence my future, but this became a key turning point in my life.

Passion for Flight

Before he was my father-inlaw, Air1 Insurance owner Dave Fitzpatrick told me, “I want you to love aircraft. That’s the secret to doing well in the aviation insurance industry.” It was 2011, and while my relationship with my future wife was just beginning, Dave gave me the chance of a lifetime to start working in his business. I began working at Air1 Insurance and spent my lunch breaks in the cockpit of any plane I could find, running through exercises with the engine off to avoid paying for flight time.

I took Dave’s advice to heart, though I was already falling in love with aircraft and flying myself, and soon completed my pilot’s license training. What typically takes six months or more, I finished in only two and half months through hard work and commitment to my training.

My career quickly took flight, both as a pilot and an aviation insurance broker. After acquiring my first insurance license in 2011, I earned the Canadian Accredited Insurance Brokers License (CAIB) and commercial pilot license within the next seven years.

I’m currently licensed in all Canadian provinces except Quebec, so I’m uniquely qualified to help pilots across Canada understand their insurance needs and find the right coverage.

Secrets to Success

My tough early life taught me that I have to do whatever it takes to excel. I don’t expect anything to be handed to me, and I think my hard work and passion for what I do is definitely a not-so-secret “secret” to success.

Caleb Winterburn, CAIB, Vice President of Operations, Air1 Insurance

In the early days at Air1 Insurance, I would start flying at 6am, sell insurance all day, fly again in the evening, and finish ground school at 10 pm. Those were long, hard days, but I was determined to be a pilot, and to pay my dues as a young aviation insurance broker. I’ve been a fully qualified aviation insurance broker for 12 years now, and the true secret to my success is my passion for helping people. Most insurance agents will say they do what they do because they love helping people, but my clients see how I take it to a different level. Because I’m also a pilot and care about my clients’ safety above all else, I’m able to help people get coverage they need when all else has failed. My relationships with the aviation insurance carriers — and my deep knowledge of aircraft and flying — help me find solutions for pilots that the average broker can’t.

Catastrophes Averted

Being an aviation insurance broker can truly be lifesaving. At Air1 Insurance, our commitment to safety has had real-world impacts on more than one occasion. In one instance, a client chose to sign over his policy to me from another broker of record. During the process, I learned that though he’d received a certificate of insurance from his previous broker, the previous broker never actually sent the

certificate to the insurance company to bind the account, so the carrier never was able to issue the policy!

Of course, we got everything straightened out and got a policy in effect. Then only a month after he became my client, the pilot had a major accident. Fortunately, because we had taken on and activated his policy, he was covered for his losses.

In another instance, a client’s policy was up for renewal and he needed a safety check with an aviation instructor before renewal. He tried to avoid this check several times, but we insisted he couldn’t renew without going through this instruction. And since he couldn’t fly without a valid insurance policy, he finally conceded. Shortly after, his engine cut out mid-flight. Thankfully, since he’d completed the safety check, he knew exactly what to do and landed safely without aircraft damage or injury. He said our insistence on completing the safety training prior to renewal saved his life. This is exactly why I do what I do.

Sharing Knowledge Beyond My Clients

On top of being a licensed pilot and insurance broker, I started to dip my toes into content creation over the last couple of years.

“I think my hard work and passion for what I do is definitely a not-so-secret ‘secret’ to success.”

I wouldn’t say I’m a YouTube star, but I started the channel to help people easily find accurate information about aviation insurance. There’s so much poor information out there, I wanted to create a trustworthy source.

My appraisal video is one of my more popular videos to date and several pilots have told me they’ve gotten their aircraft appraised and insured for a more appropriate value after watching it.

Keeping Up with the Older Guys

It’s definitely been a challenge being young in the insurance industry. Even now, at the age of 30, I’m still not always taken seriously. When I was in my early 20s, I went to an agricultural aviation convention, looking to maybe pick up a couple of accounts. I didn’t shave for two weeks, hoping they’d think I was older than I really was.

There’s that stigma that I’m not old enough to know my job, but I really do. My professional credentials, and more importantly my clients and their success stories, are proof of that.

Unlimited Potential in Aviation Insurance

I may not be very old, but I already have substantial aviation and insurance experience.

A few facts about my career so far include:

I’ve flown 20 different types of aircraft, and my goal is to fly every type of plane in the world.

I’ve written 20,000 aircraft policies over the last 12 years.

I’ve sent over a quarter million emails in my career, so far.

I picked up my first six-figure account at only 21 years old.

I started learning Chinese to serve the large Chinese-speaking population we have in British Columbia with their insurance needs.

I say all of this, not to brag about my own achievements but to show other young aviation insurance professionals that being young doesn’t have to hold you back. Neither does being at a small, family-run insurance agency such as Air1 Insurance.

Yes, we started small, but we’re quickly catching up with some of the largest aviation brokers in Canada, thanks to our passion and expertise.

We like to say, “Buy your insurance from a fellow pilot,” and this has definitely been a key to our success, because no one understands pilots’ needs like pilots do.

As we’ve grown, our reputation has spread as one of the best aviation insurance brokerages in Canada. Even Lloyds of London trusts us to write policies up to a certain limit without their underwriters’ input.

I can’t imagine a better life than talking with pilots, flying planes, and selling aviation insurance.

It’s not something my 18-year-old self would have envisioned, but now I can’t think of a better way to make a living helping people do something they love.

Caleb has worked in the aviation insurance industry for the past 10 years. He has obtained his commercial pilot’s license and has his UAV license. He enjoys flying, handling aviation insurance, and helping manage any other types of insurance.

Mental Health in Aviation: A Call to Expand the Conversation

Steve Bruneau, Vice President, Aviation Services, Polaris Aero LLC AIA Safety Committee Co-Chair

Mental health has been a part of our existence forever, but for just about as long, it has never been given the same attention and focus of other medical ailments such as cancer, diabetes, or even broken bones. While not the only catalyst that elevated mental health into the public consciousness, the Covid-19 pandemic certainly accelerated the awareness across society.

As we grapple with the stressors of the pandemic, home and social life, professional concerns, politics, the economy, and even the war in Ukraine, the mental health conversation is gathering positive momentum in so many areas. Aviation, on the other hand, seems to be lagging considerably. It’s time that our industry applies more focus and energy to mental health challenges and expand the conversation toward positive advances for the well-being of our workforce, the safety and security for all, and the overall confidence and reliability in our industry.

By the Numbers

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study published in 2020 by Brody and Gu1 showed that from 2015–2018, 13.2% of adults older than 18 used antidepressants; by gender: 8.4% of men and 17.7% of women.

In aviation the numbers as documented in the FAA 2018 Aerospace Medical Certification Statistical Handbook by Skaggs and Norris2 are drastically different.

As of December 31, 2018, there were 540,725 medically certified airmen aged 16 and older, and 42.9%, 19.2%, and 37.9% were issued first, second, and third-class medical certificates respectively. Nearly 6% of issued certificates required a special issuance, and of those there were 305 first class, 113 second class, and 389 third class special issuances for SSRI (antidepressants). In total the SSRI group comprised 0.15% of the total certificates with special issuance, far below the antidepressant usage percentage shown in the CDC study.

“I believe mental health conditions are significantly under treated and under reported in aviation,” said Mark Larsen, CAM, NBAA director of safety and flight operation. “Studies preserving the anonymity of pilots show consistent rates of mental health conditions between pilot and broader adult populations. We all are human, after all. However, data from the FAA on airman medical certificate applications where antidepressants are used shows a stark contrast from CDC data.”

This isn’t just a personal problem in the workforce, a societal problem, a work / organizational problem, or an industry problem — it’s a problem that needs to be addressed on all levels.

This article isn’t intended to venture into a litany of proposed programs that can help the situation at the various levels. Instead, it’s intended to provide some context for you to consider where you and your organization can contribute to the conversation.

As you can see from these small samples of study data, there are people and organizations studying this issue and working tirelessly to educate our industry. There’s plenty of data to look at. But like safety data itself, we need to turn that data into information we can act on. We need to break it down to the root causes and seek corrective actions or risk controls to make improvements.

Acknowledging the Problem

When looking at the root causes there are numerous headwinds from all facets of the problem that continue to slow progress. We need to raise the awareness of these challenges and roll up our sleeves to work toward better results.

Let’s look at some of the dimensions of this problem.

According to Matt McNeil, president and clinical director of LiftAffect speaking during a recent NBAA News Hour panel, “the stigma of being seen or labeled as weak or unstable is a barrier to pilots getting mental health treatment. Other barriers include loss of income or career, insurance limitations and damage to professional reputation.”

It’s important to realize that these types of issues aren’t single dimensional, as the cascading effect of these things carry over into stressors in their home and social life as an example.

“This isn’t just a personal problem in the workforce, a societal problem, a work / organizational problem, or an industry problem — it’s a problem that needs to be addressed on all levels.”

The Cost of Mental Health Impairment in Pilots

When individuals are suffering from mental illness, are they at their best? Are they able to perform their duties in aviation at their best when that activity becomes stressful? The common belief is that there are safety implications to mental health. “There are many active line pilots flying with clinical levels of depression and anxiety and they are not crashing airplanes or bending metal,” said McNeil. “When they reach subjective self-assessed levels of impairment (remember IMSAFE?), they simply call out sick and do not show up for work. . . . So across the board there is ‘Null Hypothesis’ as a justification for grounding all pilots with a current mental health diagnosis; the data does not support the safety argument.”

When individuals do get some attention and take a leave of absence / disability, the organization must fill the gaps with suitable replacements and bear the costs of onboarding and training temporary employees. Insurance is also needed to cover the cost of worker’s comp. These are just a few impacts that uncontrolled mental health can have on individuals and our industry. The research can certainly expose many more.

Healing Mental Health

It’s imperative that we acknowledge that many ailments, when properly treated and under the supervision of medical professionals, become a “non-issue” in the workplace. In our industry, we need the medical and regulatory bodies to consider this for mental health ailments. Organizations need to similarly embrace change for the better.

Safety report

In addition to the raised awareness of mental health, there are other broader positives gaining momentum. In the U.S., for example, one significant shift came this summer with the transition of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a three-digit dialing code: 988. Data from the US Department of Health and Human Services suggests the short dialing code is working; calls jumped 45% in the first month compared with the same time a year before.

You couldn’t say pilot and mental health in the same sentence 20 years ago. The Baby Boomers: forget it. They’re not going to reach out until they are literally bleeding out on the side of the road.”

The types of advocacy and programs developed and the ways in which these messages get out need to be thoughtfully considered to account for all types of demographics.

This is a great example of rethinking logistics of existing resources and spreading the word in more visible ways!

Having good programs doesn’t guarantee that they will be used by everyone. In the NBAA News Hour, McNeill pointed out that, “Generationally, Millennials and Gen Z are much more apt to reach out because they’ve grown up with counselors and therapists. It’s much more normalized. With Gen Xers . . . pretty apprehensive.

For some starting points to find resources in mental health relative to aviation, consider these:

ICAO: https://www.icao.int/safety/ aviation-medicine/Pages/Mental-Health. aspx

FAA: https://www.faa.gov/pilot-mentalfitness

Safety report

Also check with local and national associations that are creating proactive working groups to expand the conversation and raise awareness of various mental health tools. One such group is the NBAA Safety Committee.

“The many conversations I’ve had with people in the industry highlight their concerns with seeking treatment relative to FAA medical certification,” said NBAA Safety Committee Liaison Mark Larsen. “I believe that we need to prioritize daily activities that bolster our mental wellness, seek appropriate counsel and treatment(s) as necessary, and have FAA aeromedical policies that support the mental wellness of the aviation community.”

As you read this article and think about your own mental health, the mental health of those you work with, your family, and those you rely on to go about your daily life, consider your role in making each day better than the last. Challenge yourself to pursue your own understanding of mental health issues and the ways you can be part of a better future. From an aviation industry perspective, ask yourself how you or your

organization can get involved toward pursuing a better approach for everyone involved. Being proactive with mental health is a good thing for all. Are you doing your part?

As Vice President of Aviation Services at Polaris Aero, Steve Bruneau is responsible for expanding the company’s suite of safety management solutions.

Steve has more than 25 years of process consulting experience helping organizations meet regulatory requirements or achieve new levels of performance.

Footnotes and sources

1. Debra J. Brody, M.P.H., and Qiuping Gu, M.D., Ph.D., “Antidepressant Use Among Adults: United States, 2015-2018”, NCHS Data Brief No. 377, September 202 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/ databriefs/db377.htm#print

2. Valerie J. Skaggs and Ann I. Norris, “2018 Aerospace Medical Certification Statistical Handbook”, DOT/FAA/AM-21/13, April 2021 https://www.faa.gov/data_research/ research/med_humanfacs/ oamtechreports/2020s/media/202113.pdf https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/ performance-metrics

2022: A year in review

As we wrap up an incredible year, we are grateful to you for your continued participation and support of the AIA. This year, our membership grew to include more than 730 aviation insurance professionals —thank you for your commitment to the elevation of our industry! Enjoy these highlights from 2022.

Hot Topics Webinars

The AIA Education Committee, in conjunction with the Membership Committee, kicked off a series of webinars in 2022 focusing on hot topics in the aviation insurance industry. These webinars were complimentary for AIA Members. In January, we explored the issues associated with the unruly and disruptive passengers in Passengers Gone Wild. Then, in July, Swiss Re’s Raffaella Basile and Starr Companies’ Andy Trundle gave an update on the reinsurance market in Reinsurance Matters: Factors in the Global Market.

Core Principles Course

This year, we hosted AIA’s Core Principles and Concepts course in Overland Park, Kansas, Chicago, Illinois, and virtually. More than 50 students expanded their industry knowledge, received continuing education credits, and became one step closer to achieving the Certified Aviation Insurance Professional (CAIP) designation.

Year in review

2022 AIA Conference

The AIA Annual Conference returned this year following a three-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aviation insurance professionals hailing from 41 states and nine countries descended upon Nashville, Tennessee for four days of education, networking, and fun. Remember to mark your calendars for the next AIA Conference in Tucson, Arizona May 5-8, 2023.

Year in review

2022 AIA Open

With sunny skies and warm weather, the AIA hosted its second September AIA Open at Bear’s Best Atlanta. More than 70 aviation insurance professionals joined us for the day of golf, networking, and fun on the course. AIA golf will be back at the conference in Tucson!

AIA Honors and Recognitions

The AIA is proud to recognize the educational and professional achievements of our members. Congratulations to the individuals who received honors from the AIA this year:

CAIP and CAIP Gold designations are presented at the annual conference. This year professionals were recognized for achieving their CAIP designation. One individual was also recognized for earning the CAIP Gold designation.

Looking Ahead

The AIA team is excited to host you in 2023. Visit the AIA website for the latest information on upcoming events, resources, and more.

Core Principles & Concepts Course February & August (US/Virtual)

2023 Annual Conference May (Tucson)

AIA Open Golf Scramble September (Atlanta)

Core Principles & Concepts Course November (London) Industry Networking Reception November (London)

Twelve aviation insurance professionals were nominated and joined the AIA’s Eagle Society in recognition of their dedication to the AIA and contributions to the industry.

Hot Topics Webinars Throughout the Year

Binder Magazine

Did you know AIA Members can read past issues of The Binder in the member portal on the AIA website? AIA’s quarterly Binder magazine featured numerous topics impacting the aviation insurance industry this year. In addition to the division articles, the AIA Safety Committee shared a safety report in each edition with report topics including the impact and role of SMS, top operational considerations to assess safety culture, and the latest turbine training trends. We also continued the popular “Where Are They Now?” series to help you keep up with your peers, colleagues, and friends who may have retired or moved on.

Frank Kimmel III received the prestigious Pinnacle Award, the AIA’s highest honor, at the 2022 AIA Conference.

Sponsoring Organizations

Thank you to everyone who supported the AIA this year through a sponsorship!

2022 AIA Premier Members

Frederick Alimonti

Alimonti Law Offices, P.C. Valhalla, NY

Charles Arnold

Arnold and Arnold, Inc. San Diego, CA

Katherine Ayre

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Toronto, Canada

Zachary Ballard

Salmon, Ricchezza, Singer & Turchi LLP Philadelphia, PA

Eric Barfield

AssuredPartners Aerospace, LLC Columbia, SC

Richard Bayman

MS Amlin London, United Kingdom

William Bernens

Arch Reinsurance Morristown, NJ

Leon Beukman

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Vancouver, Canada

John Bloomstine Insurance Management Company Erie, PA

Timothy Bonnell Jr. Aeris Insurance Solutions Overland Park, KS

Scott Bradbury

Atrium Underwriters Ltd London, United Kingdom

Thomas Bradshaw

Halton Hall & Associates/ Menger

Underwriting Services, LLC Fort Worth, TX

Robert Braun

KMA Zuckert LLC Chicago, IL

Terry Britt

EBCO Aviation Insurance, LLC Lilburn, GA

Steve Bruneau

Polaris Aero LLC Edgewater Park, NJ

Jeffrey S. Bruno Global Aerospace Morris Plains, NJ

Billy Carroll

Rains Insurance Knoxville, TN

Michael Chevrette

Great American Insurance Company East Brunswick, NJ

Brian Colistra

Fitzpatrick & Hunt, Pagano, Aubert, LLP Stamford, CT

Charles Conour, Jr. Conour Insurance, Inc. Vestavia Hills, AL

Patrick Costello

Costello Insurance Associates, Inc. Tempe, AZ

Patrick Cove Sompo International Zurich, Switzerland

Robert Curtis Aviation Insurance Partners Tampa, FL

Michael Dalton Agile Underwriting Services Pty Ltd Sydney, Australia

Doug Davidson Davidson Solid Rock Insurance Clinton, AR

Michael Dery

Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP Vancouver, Canada

Barry Dowlen

Falcon Insurance Agency, Inc. Kerrville, TX

Joshua Down

Atrium Underwriters Limited London, United Kingdom

Candace Eichenberger

Avinsure Agency, Inc. Powell, OH

Sean Emmett

Charles Taylor Adjusting — Aviation Miramar, FL

Alan Farkas

SmithAmundsen Aerospace Chicago, IL

David Feigelson Petkoff and Feigelson, PLLC Memphis, TN

Debi Fleischer AvQuest Insurance Service Gold River, CA

Lawrence Galizi Aviation Risk Management Associates, Inc. Crystal Lake, IL

Jim Gardner

The James A Gardner Company Inc. Marietta, GA

Ladd Gardner

Ladd Gardner Aviation Insurance Agency, Inc. Addison, TX

Covert Geary

Jones Walker LLP New Orleans, LA

Philip Gingell

Worldlink Holdings,LLC Chicago, IL

Brett Godfrey

Godfrey Johnson, P.C. Englewood, CO

Brandie Gouley

Aviation Insurance Solutions LLC Clancy, MT

David Gray

Applied Underwriters Aviation Marietta, GA

Kevin Gruys

Aircraft & Marine Insurance Agency, Inc. Burnsville, MN

Mike Hansen Convex UK London, United Kingdom

Tom Hauge Wings Insurance Chaska, MN

William Haynes

CBIZ Insurance Services Alpharetta, GA

Jennifer Heins

Wings Agency Hainesport, NJ

Laura Higley

Higley & Higley PA LLC Port Orange, FL

Thomas Hollinger

Beacon Aviation Insurance Services Acworth, GA

Andrew Johnson

Condon & Forsyth LLP Los Angeles, CA

Scott Kennedy

Parrish-O’Neill & Associates, Inc

Mount Vernon, OH

Frank Kimmel III

Kimmel Aviation Insurance Agency, Inc. Greenwood, MS

Logan Klauss

Petkoff and Feigelson, PLLC Memphis, TN

Camille Knight

CRC Insurance Group Louisville, KY

Scott Langevin

Avion Insurance Agency, Inc. Lake Mary, FL

Christina Leitner

Sompo International Zurich, Switzerland

Peter Lindberg

Counsineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. Minnetonka, MN

Pam Lipsey

Lockton Companies Houston, TX

Michael Maragoudakis

Martinez & Ritorto, P.C. New York, NY

Louis R. Martinez

Martinez & Ritorto, PC New York, NY

Mindy McFarland

Advanced Aviation Insurance Services Roseville, CA

Scott McGinnis

AIG Aerospace Insurance Services, Inc. Newington, CT

J. Bruce McKissock

Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin Philadelphia, PA

Gavin McMahon Global Aerospace Markham, Canada

John Murray

Murray, Morin & Herman, P.A. Eufaula, AL

Alexander Muszynski III

Meier, Bonner, Muszynski, O’Dell & Harvey P.A. Longwood, FL

David Norton

Shackelford Bowen McKinley & Norton, LLP Dallas, TX

Robert O’Neil

Preferred Aviation Underwriters Duluth, GA

Randy Peterson

TRICOR Insurance Inc. Lancaster, WI

Eric Pfister

Avsurance Corp. Phoenix, AZ

Michael Pratt

Foundation Risk Partners Louisville, KY

Rod Ritter

Velocity Insurance Group LLC Bend, OR

James Roe

Arlington/Roe & Company, Inc. Indianapolis, IN

Peter Rota

Aviators Insurance Agency, Inc. Van Nuys, CA

Jerry Ruth CHUBB New Orleans, LA

Lisa Savitt

The Axelrod Firm Bethesda, MD

Jared Schneider Tressler LLP Chicago, IL

Michael J. Schofield

Clark Partington Pensacola, FL

Lorri Shuey

Nason Associates, Inc. Shawnee Mission, KS

J. Denny Shupe

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP Philadelphia, PA

Jason Starke

Baldwin Safety & Compliance

Hilton Head Island, SC

Michael Staszel

McLarens Aviation Park Ridge, IL

Lorretta Steffeter

All Access Aviation Markets, Inc. Chicago, IL

Thomas Strueber

Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial, LLC Atlanta, GA

Jeffrey Sutton

London Aviation Underwriters, Inc. Federal Way, WA

Ann Taylor

Locke Lord LLP Chicago, IL

Lesly Thatcher

Thatcher Aviation Risk Services & Insurance Solutions, LLC Walnut Creek, CA

Pete Torell

Torell Aviation Insurance Agency, Inc. Port Saint Lucie, FL

Tracy Toro

Aon Risk Services New York, NY

Roberto A. Torricella Jr Torricella Law, PLLC Miami, FL

John Travers

Travers Aviation St. Louis, MO

Christopher Turnbull CS&A Insurance Franklin, TN

Rick Turner Aerospace Risk Management Group Grand Ledge, MI

Ed Underwood

Avsurance Corporation Ann Arbor, MI

Nick Vine

Willis Towers Watson Porter, TX

David Watts

Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada Toronto, Canada

Dean West

CFM Aviation Insurance Brokers, Inc. Long Beach, CA

Joe Williams

Marsh McLennan Agency Johns Creek, GA

Caleb Winterburn

Air1 Insurance Langley, Canada

Jason Wissmiller

AssuredPartners Aerospace, LLC Hillsboro, OR

Charlie Withers-Clarke

Guy Carpenter and Co. Pembroke, Bermuda

Ian Wrigglesworth

Guy Carpenter & Company Ltd

London, United Kingdom

Lawrence Wright

Rawle & Henderson, LLP Blue Bell, PA

Jennifer Zak

Shannon & Luchs Insurance Agency, Inc. Gaithersburg, MD

Robert Zavaglia, Jr.

Treece Alfrey Musat P.C. Denver, CO

President

Greg Sterling

AIG Aerospace Atlanta, GA greg.sterling@aig.com

Vice President

Chris Morin

Murray, Morin & Herman, P.A. Tampa, FL cmorin@mmhlaw.com

Treasurer

Luke Uithoven

Kimmel Aviation Insurance Agency, Inc. Greenwood, MS luke@kimmelinsurance.com

Secretary

Ian Wrigglesworth

Guy Carpenter London, United Kingdom ian.wrigglesworth@guycarp.com

Director, Agent/Broker Division

David Hampson

Schrager Hampson Aviation Insurance Agency LLC Bedford, MA david@planeinsurance.com

Director, Attorney Division

Mike McGrory

Amundsen Davis, LLC Chicago, IL mmcgrory@amundsendavislaw.com

Director, Claims Division

David Gourgues

McLarens General Aviation Celebration, FL david.gourgues@mclarens.com

Director, Reinsurance Division

Raffaella Basile

Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd Zurich, Switzerland Raffaella_Basile@swissre.com

Director, Underwriter Division

Wes Collier

Old Republic Aerospace Kennesaw, GA wcollier@ORaero.com

Director-Elect, Underwriter Division

Jeffrey Sutton

London Aviation Underwriters, Inc. Federal Way, WA jtsutton@londonaviation.net

International Director

Andy Trundle

Starr Aviation London, United Kingdom Andy.Trundle@starrcompanies.com

Director-At-Large

Nicole Wolfe Stout

Strawinski & Stout, P.C. Atlanta, GA nws@strawlaw.com

Director-At-Large Chris Arnold

Sutton James an Optisure Risk Partner Hartford, CT carnold@suttonjames.com

International Director-At-Large David Watts

Old Republic Canada Ontario, Canada dwatts@orican.com

Executive Director

Mary Gratzer

Aviation Insurance Association Lexington, KY mary.gratzer@aiaweb.org

GENERAL COUNSEL

Bob Williams

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP Pittsburgh, PA rwilliams@schnader.com

Glossary of Common Aviation and Insurance Acronyms

AIA — Aviation Insurance Association

AOPA — Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

ASAP — Aviation Safety Action Program (FAA)

ASIAS — Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing system (FAA)

CASA — Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia)

CAAC — Civil Aviation Administration of China

COPA — Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association

EAA — Experimental Aircraft Association

EASA — European Union Aviation Safety Agency

E6B — A type of manual or electronic flight computer

FAA — Federal Aviation Administration (U.S.)

FBO — Fixed base operator (service station for aircraft and pilots)

FDM/FOQA — Flight Data Monitoring / Flight Operations Quality Assurance

GA — General Aviation

GAMA — General Aviation Manufacturers Association

IATA International Air Transport Association

IBAC International Business Aviation Council

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

IFR — Instrument Flight Rules

IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions

IS-BAO International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations

IS-BAH — International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling

MRO Maintenance Repair Organization

NBAA National Business Aviation Association

NTSB National Transportation Safety Board (U.S.)

P&C Property and Casualty

SMS Safety Management System

VFR Visual Flight Rules

WAI Women in Aviation International

This is an abridged list of aviation insurance terms that appear in current and previous editions of the AIA’s The Binder magazine.