From my personal experience, I'd say presume you are not covered unless you have taken steps to ensure that you are.

Make no assumptions with insurance- read and understand the policy before money changes hands. Never let your broker change your anything without obtaining your express permission first- and get that in writing. Unless the policy clearly says you're covered, then you're not covered- insurance is a business of written specifics.

Can't say for anywhere else, but in the US you can get a "Personal Liability" policy that covers anything you do anywhere within it's coverage area, and it generally has no limitations concerning where you are, just that you are there personally. It takes effect after any other insurance coverage is exhausted or where there is no other insurance coverage. About the only thing it doesn't cover is intentional malicious criminal acts. If you have assets which you don't want to risk or you do things beyond what the average person does, then you need such a policy. The cost is tied to the coverage and coverage usually starts in the million dollar range and goes up. It ain't cheap but unless you're set up with protected assets, then you need it- if it pays off once it will be worth it.

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with any insurance companies; in fact I hate paying it myself but it's a necessary evil in life so....

Move to Canada
 

I moved to Alberta from Ontario some years ago. Both provinces mandate a standard automobile policy which has no airside exclusions:ok:

I was thinking there was no worries driving across the runway when it's covered in snow, but walking across last week we spotted tracks from a skiplane.

Your local airfield has just done you a favour. If you don't have airside insurance and you write off a £50k aircraft, and even worse the occupants, then unless you have a lot of loose change then the 3rd Party's estate will take your house or you will go to jail. What you're doing is no better than the local yobs that drive Peugeots on the road with no insurance either.

Get insurance or keep your car off of your airfield - simple choice! :ugh:

CPL Clott

Can anybody provide a referenced definition of 'airside' please?

"Airside" is a very vague term! I believe it is used in terms of "anywhere an aircraft might be". I've also seen both "aircraft manoeuvring area" and "aircraft movement area" used which have subtle differences, not to mention that what you may think of as either may not be the same as what the airfield operator has defined!

It's an absolute minefield!

"It's an absolute minefield! "

Can you get insurance for driving on that?

I really have to smile when I read this uniquely European point of view. Nobody worries about this nonsense in the US, nobody knows what "airside" means, and everybody drives on the ramp. In fact at my airport the only way I can get to/from my aircraft and hangar is by driving a car - you can't exit through the gate without a car to trip the inductive sensor and open the automatic gate. There is no pedestrian access.

I'm sure about once every fifty years it causes a problem for somebody, somewhere although I've never heard of it. My risk mitigation technique is to not hit anything while driving the quarter mile between hangar and gate. Aircraft have right of way on the ramp and that's the only rule required to prevent problems.

This one comes up on the glider pilot net forum every now and then.
Usually with the same lack of any real conclusion.

The problem is compounded because at glider airfields there is no distinction between airside and otherwise or indeed between a runway and a taxi-way on multi-direction run grass winch sites.

'Fraid I missed this thread when it started.

I have motor insurance from NFU Mutual who, after a certain amount of checking with their legal folk, were happy to extend cover to include the gliding club, provided that I comply with airfield instructions and liability is limited to something like £5M. NFU have previously offered (and may still do) tailored insurance for hot air balloon pilots, so maybe they were a bit less terrified by the prospect.

The key seems to be getting the insurer to recognize the difference between a commercial airport with big aircraft and passengers, and somewhere where the liability is generally rather less than on the road or at the supermarket car park.

Windrusher

When we were putting our aircraft product together we decided to take the line that the airside cover in respect of cars would operate at the home base of the aircraft anywhere other than where the vehicle would require cover to meet the road traffic law. This avoids having to worry about defining the limits of the airfield or airside cover as it effectively ensures the client is covered one way or another.

Out of interest, a motor vehicle only airside cover might protect against potential liabilities arising out of the use of a vehicle but an aircraft owner can face other liabilities (e.g. if they knock over a ladder in a hangar and it prangs another owner’s plane). It is worth ensuring that you are also covered for such exposure while airside.

Cheers

Bob