Remember that old idiom, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you”? Well, when you are training to become a helicopter pilot, nothing could be further from the truth! Especially when it comes to that helicopter you are flying and what happens in the unfortunate event of damage to yourself, someone else, and/or the machine. Most people go through their training never asking this question - “Please explain the school insurance policy and what happens to me in the event of damage to the helicopter” - and most helicopter schools like it this way. The less they have to tell their prospective customers, the better off they are, because more than likely the customer will not like to hear what they are going to be told. Let me cover a couple of myths about renting a helicopter and what the insurance will or will not cover with respect to you, the student/renter pilot.
Myth Number 1: My helicopter school said they have “full insurance” and I’m covered.
Myth Number 2: If I damage the helicopter, my school told me that as a student pilot I’m covered under their insurance.
Myth Number 3: I will just fly safely and not do anything stupid and I’ll be ok.
Myth Number 4: My instructor said not to worry about insurance - student pilots cannot be held liable for anything. It’s all on the instructor.
Myth Number 5: I’m just a poor helicopter student with no money anyway - “they can’t get blood from a stone”.
I could go on and on with the Myths, but the point is that you have to ask about insurance before you start your training. I can tell you from experience that some helicopter schools do not even carry “hull” insurance on their helicopters (hull insurance covers damage to the helicopter). I have seen it happen, and I have also seen the consequences of careless handling of helicopters.
Think of it this way - all the paperwork you sign when you rent an automobile, but yet you can walk into almost any helicopter school, get checked out and walk out with the keys and fly away without even knowing if there is insurance on that aircraft. Our helicopter school has a rental agreement which we require all post-solo students to sign before renting the helicopter. This agreement outlines in specifics what our insurance covers when you take the helicopter solo. The rental agreement is not just something to cover the helicopter school, it’s there to outline in great detail what you can expect in the event that something happens to you or the helicopter. Even a minor event such as a hard landing - it’s worth the peace of mind to know the responsibilities of everyone involved.
Many Robinson helicopter schools carry what is known as “Pathfinder” insurance. This is the cheapest helicopter insurance on the market, and has quite a few specific clauses relating directly to Robinson helicopters. Many of these policies carry deductibles which could easily amount to $60,000 dollars or more. Imagine being responsible for a $60,000 dollar repair to the helicopter which your school will expect you to pay (even if you did not sign a rental agreement). Pathfinder is also an “offshore” insurance company, not subject to U.S. insurance regulations. This can be a problem in the event there is a liability claim against the helicopter owner, or you, the pilot in command. Pathfinder also covers Robinson Helicopters directly in the amount of 50% for each policy. So if something does happen, Robinson Helicopters immediately absorbs 50% of the liability coverage on that policy! Pathfinder also requires that in the event of an accident the helicopter must be shipped to Robinson Helicopters in Torrance, California. This is another cost which may be absorbed by you - the student.
So, as a student pilot under some helicopter schools, here is what you would have to pay in the event of an accident:
1. Deductible - up to $60,000
2. Shipping costs back to Robinson Helicopters
3. Liability - if you taxi into someone’s jet - you may not even be covered.
At our helicopter schools in Boston, New York and New Hampshire, we use a major carrier in the United States, and maintain a local insurance broker that works with us on a weekly basis. All of our ships carry 100% hull and liability insurance which covers the student pilot. Our deductible for the R-22 is $11,000 for each ship, and this is outlined under the student responsibilities in the Rental Agreement. We go the extra mile to make sure our students are afforded the same protection as the owner/operators with respect to insurance requirements.
So before you choose a helicopter flight school in the Boston, Alexandria New York, or New Hampshire area, ask some questions, and ask to see a rental agreement. If they can’t produce a rental agreement or refuse to answer your questions - find another flight school!
Train with the premier international Part 141 helicopter flight school in New England! We are open 7 days a week and operate Robinson R-22’s and R-44’s. We have a complete Part 141 helicopter flight training facility located at the Lawrence Airport in North Andover, MA and at the Maxson Airfield in Alexandria, NY.
