Moving up: How that new aircraft may impact your aircraft insurance
Are you interested in buying a new, more complex aircraft? Before you do, there are a few things you should know that may help with your aircraft insurance.
- Talk to a broker who specializes in general aviation aircraft before you go shopping. An experienced broker will be able to advise you as to what minimum pilot qualifications underwriters will require, discuss common checkout requirements, and offer an estimate of annual insurance costs for various types of aircraft.
- Develop a "transition plan" for the underwriter. A transition plan may include a combination of additional ratings, dual flight instruction, solo time, and even simulator time.
- Choose an insurance agency you know and trust.
The AOPA Insurance Agency (888/462-2672) provides free no-obligation quotes. Ask about our 5-percent AOPA member discount.
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Logbooks and logging time
A process that is somewhat unique to aviation is the keeping of logbooks. A boater doesn't have to write down his time on the water; a golfer isn't required to write down his score — unless he or she is in a sanctioned tournament; and a race car driver may not have to keep records of repair of his equipment. But in aviation, pilots and aircraft owners are required by the federal aviation regulations to document and be able to show flying time and maintenance records. Flight instructors are required to make entries in a student's logbook, pilots are required to log pilot-in-command time to show currency, and owners are required to log inspection information on their aircraft. The numerous regulations that pertain to logging flight time are confusing to even the most experienced pilots. It's a good idea to learn and understand the logging requirements early in your flying career and be consistent in logging your flight time. Good records on your aircraft are important for many reasons, not the least of which is resale — an airplane with complete, original logbooks brings a premium on the used market and can save its owner money on every annual. Get used to writing it down!
The Flight Training advantage
Instructors — give your primary students the AOPA Flight Training advantage.
Your students are eligible to receive six free issues of AOPA Flight Training magazine and six months of free access to AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner, weather, online safety courses, Safety Advisors, and a wealth of training-related resources. They'll receive these and many other valuable AOPA benefits when you enroll them online ( http://ft.aopa.org/ftcfi) or ( http://ft.aopa.org/ftfree). For each unique student name you submit, you'll receive two additional entries in AOPA's Win a Six in '06 Sweepstakes, a free six-month subscription to AOPA Flight Training, a listing in our online instructor directory, and more. For more information, call 800/USA-AOPA.
A complete archive of all AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training articles pertaining to logbooks and logging time, as well as Part 61.51 of the FARs, is available on AOPA Online.
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