Life insurance for pilots
The kind of flying matters far more than the fact of it. And the exclusion is the thing to fight.
Aviation is one of the few activities that still routinely affects life insurance underwriting. Coverage is available, and the terms depend heavily on what kind of flying you do.
There's also a specific trap here: the standard fix insurers reach for removes coverage for exactly the risk you're most exposed to.
The aviation exclusion problem
The common offer is a policy with an aviation exclusion rider: it pays for death from other causes but not from an aviation accident.
For someone who flies regularly, that can hollow out the policy. A flat extra — an additional charge that keeps aviation covered — is usually the better structure if you can get it. Ask for it explicitly rather than accepting an exclusion as the only option.
What the aviation questionnaire asks
Expect a supplementary form. The answers, not the job title, determine the terms.
- Certificates and ratings held, and instrument rating
- Total hours, hours in the last year, and hours in type
- Aircraft types flown, and single versus multi-engine
- Type of flying — commercial scheduled, corporate, instruction, private, agricultural, aerobatic, experimental
- Whether flying is for an employer under an operating certificate
- Any incidents, accidents, or certificate actions
Not all flying is priced alike
Commercial airline flying under a structured operating environment with high hours and recurrent training is generally viewed differently from low-hour private flying, and differently again from agricultural application, aerobatics, test flying, or experimental aircraft.
Student pilots and low-time private pilots often face the least favourable terms — and that improves with hours, so terms obtained early aren't necessarily permanent.
Carrier selection matters more here than almost anywhere
Aviation guidelines differ sharply between insurers, and some carriers are notably more accommodating than others. Approaching the wrong one first can put an unfavourable decision on record.
This is a case for going through someone who places aviation cases regularly.
Also check
- Whether existing group coverage has an aviation exclusion of its own
- Whether employer-provided coverage covers duty flying specifically
- Loss of licence coverage, which is a different product and not life insurance
- Whether a policy can be reviewed for improved terms once hours build
Common questions
Yes. Terms depend heavily on the type of flying, hours, ratings and aircraft — the questionnaire matters more than the job title.
Try hard not to. It removes coverage for the risk you're most exposed to. Ask for a flat extra that keeps aviation covered instead, and ask specifically rather than accepting the first structure offered.
Often yes — low-hour pilots generally face the least favourable terms, and that changes with experience. A policy can be reviewed later rather than treated as permanent.
Want this priced for your situation?
This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer. Nothing here binds coverage.