Insurance ? I think not!

[eric r]

I just read my new insurance policy for my "other" airplane (a Grumman).
I live in Florida, and I now have a "hurricane exclusion". If I decide to relocate my plane, they'll pay me up to $500 if I provide receipts! ...Thanks, what a great deal! How very kind of you! ... Have they heard that hamburger flights are now $200 with gas prices where they are?
If I don't relocate the plane, and keep it in my new hangar (condo purchase built to a 135 mph wind code), the "not in motion" coverage is 5% of insured value ! WOW, they'll give me a big $3750 for a total loss (they keep the airplane, avionics and all) in exchange for my payment of $1400 for the policy ... Is anybody seeing a "deal" here? The way I read the policy, the reduced coverage is if I decide to keep the airplane at the primary airport I have listed on the policy ... now if I fly it ten miles away to another airport (to top off with cheaper gas to fly out of harm's way), find that I have a headache from the pressure drop and won't fly on antihistamines, tie the airplane down on the ramp and it is destroyed by the "named storm"; THEN I'm insured!!
BEWARE you Norhtener's, soon there will be no coverage from snow and ice causing the hangar to collapse. Of course in the Mid-West, no coverage for tornado damage. Definitely no coverage for you guys out West for earthquake damage. Rain damage in the Pacific Northwest? NO way!
I guess the easiest answer is: If a hurricane damages the airplane, climb into the wreckage, start the engine making sure there is a prop strike, and file a report that I was attempting to get to the runway for an intended flight! %^^$&^$(* this ticks me off!

[Drew]

All in all---I think it is a good thing.  The exceptions you list are real---and I think would happen in a minority of the circumstances.

My concern would be what if I were out of town on business and could not physically move it (guess I need a backup plan along with a backup pilot)?  What if the hurricane hits during the time I took the aircraft down for modification---and was unflyable?  My guess is that is covered somewhere in there.

But lets look at the bigger picture---people who do have the means to move the plane----and don't---then file claims.  The result can be loss of coverage for a whole series of aircraft if the insurance agency deems that particular part of the business not profitable anymore.  Or the result could be me (you) paying higher premiums to help compensate for the loss(thank to you guys who won't/don't attempt to move your planes.

By the way---this is one of your motivations in helping new EZ guys stay safe------to keep our insurance rates from rising.

[eric r]

Nope, not covered if not moved, flyable or not! I could understand if the aircraft were parked outside ... And when was the last time insurance rates went down?  I'm paying for non-movement insurance that is absolutely useless. If the fuel truck hits me, the FBO Insurance pays. If another aircraft taxis through the door and into my hangar, their insurance pays. Any other time, my prop is turning and I'm "moving". These hurricane and wind exclusions are just another way to screw the consumer.
My definition of Insurance Fraud is : You pay for Insurance and they find a way of not paying a claim!
I pay for insurance, and they tell me that if I want to be covered, I must leave my family to fend for themselves, and spend hundreds of dollars in excess of their "reimbursement" to move my plane out of the safest structure available, and "LIKE IT?". My cars are insured while in the garage or driveway, or the Publix parking lot! My boat is covered sitting on the lift. My airplane on the other hand has to be ferried around the countryside at my expense to validate the insurance. FRAUD.
Whatever the cost, if I decide I want insurance, then I want insurance, not excuses, exclusions, and nonsense.
Many owners here are opting for liability only, since the insurance is otherwise useless.