To qualify for licensing, air carriers must demonstrate they have in place sufficient levels of insurance.
There are minimum insurance requirements for air carriers and aircraft operators flying within, into, out of, or over the territory of an European Economic Area Member State.
There are minimum requirements for the separate insurance of passengers, baggage, cargo and third parties, including cover for risks of war and terrorism (‘war risk’).
Many operators choose to buy insurance on a combined ‘single limit’ basis. When doing so they should ensure that the amount covers the different categories identified below.
Minimum levels of insurance cover
Minimum levels of cover are dependent on who or what is being carried and/or the size of the aircraft concerned. Minimum levels are given in Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The SDR is an international currency unit defined by the International Monetary Fund. Exchange rates are published daily in the Financial Times and can be found on the IMF website.
Passengers
Minimum cover is 250,000 SDRs per passenger.
Baggage
Minimum cover is 1,288 SDRs per passenger.
Cargo
Minimum cover is 22 SDRs per kilogram of cargo.
Third party cover and war risk cover
The minimum level of third party and war risk cover depends on the Maximum Take Off Mass (MTOM) of the aircraft concerned. There are ten categories of aircraft based on MTOM.
Finding the weight of a specific aircraft
G-INFO is the CAA’s aircraft register and will provide details of all current aircraft on the UK register and amongst other things the weight of a specific aircraft.
Calculator
An insurance calculator is available to help you assess the appropriate level of cover.
Regulatory background
The EC Regulation establishing these requirements came into force on 30 April 2005.
- Regulation (EC) No 785/2004 (as amended by Regulation (EU) No 285/2010)) and Regulations (EU) 2020/1118
and - the UK Regulations supporting its implementation (The Civil Aviation (Insurance) Regulations 2005)
The Regulation does not apply to:
- State aircraft
- Model aircraft less than 20kg
- Foot launched flying machines
- Captive balloons
- Kites
- Parachutes, including parascending parachutes
Further information
Your broker should be aware of the minimum requirements and initial queries should be directed to them. However, additional information and FAQs on insurance can be found on our Aircraft Registration pages.
Please get in touch if you have any queries or require further information.
Contact us
Airline Licensing
Email: airlinelicensing@caa.co.uk
Fax: (020) 7453 6322
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