The Ins and Outs of Aircraft Insurance

“One thing is true about insurance: It’s better to have it and not need it, than the other way around.”

– Joel Thomas, President & CEO, Stratos Jet Charters Inc.

When it comes to owning and operating a jet, having the proper aircraft insurance in place is one of the most important responsibilities you can undertake. It’s not a matter of should you or shouldn’t you, it’s more a matter of coverage, provider, and rates.

To better provide our clients with the information they need to make informed buying decisions, we’ve created an aircraft insurance guide to help clarify the types available and how they’re used.

Aircraft Hull & Liability Insurance

For aircraft owners and operators, there are many different variations and options available through an aircraft hull & liability insurance policy. Some owners prefer to purchase hull insurance only while others opt for additional liability insurance as well. Beyond those two basic forms, the options are extensive and can be a bit overwhelming to those new to the industry. To help educate our clients, our goal is to provide as much information as possible.

For a more detailed explanation of hull and liability insurance, please visit the Aircraft Liability Insurance page.

Our Carriers’ Minimum Coverage & Our Own Additional Policy

For clients booking charters, we’ve created our own in-house Air Carrier Due Diligence Program. With this program, each and every air carrier we work with is pre-screened before being hired for a mission. One of the requirements we screen for is that each private aircraft carrier must carry liability insurance at a minimum of $25 million for turboprop charters and $50 million for jets. However, many of the operators we work with greatly exceed these minimums.

In addition to these requirements, we’ve also invested in our own $50 million non-owned liability policy. We maintain this policy to give our clients peace of mind when booking a charter flight with us.

However, some charter clients feel more comfortable with additional coverage, and we’re happy to facilitate that. For more detailed information, please review the Non-owned Aircraft Liability page.

Fixed-base Operators Need Insurance Too

When it comes to aviation insurance, it’s not just aircraft that require liability insurance. Fixed-base operators (FBOs) require a general liability policy too. A proper policy can protect against a third party claim related to property damage or bodily harm.

Working with a reputable insurance broker can provide a policy that offers the appropriate coverage, such as:

  • Premise Liability – Insures the premises against ordinary hazards
  • Hangarkeeper’s Liability – Protects airports from claims related to aircraft damaged while in the care and custody of an airport
  • Products and Completed Operations Liability – Intended to protect the airport from incidents arising from negligent work, and/or faulty products
  • Personal and Advertising Injury Liability – This option can avoid penalties pertaining to “personal injury,” like false arrest, slander, privacy violiations, etc.
  • Contractual Liability – Protects against issues that can arise due to contract disputes

When seeking FBO-related insurance coverage, it’s important to work with a reputable insurance broker that can help you take the necessary steps to safeguard your assets and make sure they’re properly cared for.

Stratos’ Commitment to Honest Advice and Fair Pricing

Aircraft insurance plans are complex and have many different variables, and it can be really challenging to put a policy in place that meets all your needs without consulting an industry expert. That’s why Stratos Jet Charters has decided to partner with an insurance broker that specializes in aviation insurance. We want to lend our expertise and knowledge to our clients to help them make informed buying decisions. Our transparent and informative approach in everything we do is what makes us proud to stand out as a leader in the private aviation industry.

Need a pricing estimate for your private jet charter?

Check out our pricing tool to see the estimated cost of chartering a private jet on any route you wish to travel. See the pricing among different aircraft categories for both domestic and international flights.

What Our Clients Are Saying

We have been using Stratos for a couple of years now and appreciate their dedication to using only the safest charter operators. Just completed the front end of a back to back for the Christmas Holiday.

Rick H. - Review from our trusted JET CHARTER REVIEWS

Excellent

Stratos Jet Charters Overall rating (4.88 out of 5) Based on 581 reviews from our trusted Jet Charter reviews

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Overall rating (4.88 out of 5) Based on 581 reviews from our trusted Jet Charter reviews
5 1 5 09/22/2021

Steve Stogner set everything up perfectly. The crew PIC:Sean Jensen and SIC: Paul Theriot were the absolute best. If you want the best experience ever, request this crew. Made everything, from arriving at the airport to departing the destination airport a wonderful experience. Moser Aviation must be an up and coming company, as they sure hire great people

5 1 5 10/20/2020

Yes

5 1 5 12/21/2021

We had a great flight. I greatly appreciated Zach calling to let me know the address of the gate had changed. I did get an email with the update but it didn't show up in my inbox til I was driving to the airport. We had a great flight with no issues. The crew were very helpful when and if we had any questions.

5 1 5 03/26/2021

Katie was great on very short notice. Here is were the 5th star was lost: No on board bathroom and I was not told about it. I specifically asked about quality of safety and maintenance by operator and got incorrect information initially; although there was no apparent problem .

5 1 5 12/17/2018

I could not ask for more, I love using Stratos and will never use anyone else!

5 1 5 10/31/2022

Everything was great with the trip; it was a bit rushed on my part and Danny was a rockstar! He gave me many options and honest and frank feedback and advice. He made me feel like I was the only client he had and was incredibly responsive to all my questions and concerns. Stress-free and relaxing is the best way to summarize my experience. I will always use Stratos and Danny!! thank you to all the team as well!

5 1 5 12/06/2019

Always awesome working with Kerry!

5 1 5 05/23/2021

Good flight. Thanks for the trip.

5 1 5 06/21/2021

Fantastic experience as always with Stratos! Joel and his team found us a great flight with a brand new airplane that accommodated all of our family and our schedule. The value can’t be over stated Joel always places us with the right equipment for the right trip

5 1 5 12/21/2021

We had a large family gathering in Santa Barbara to which Frank with Stratos was able to arrange the flight. The plane and pilots were fantastic as was the service leading up to and throughout. I would recommend them to anyone that needs private travel arrangements.

5 1 5 11/26/2016

Our VP's had a wonderful trip and great experience. Your staff is professional, welcoming, easy to work with and I look forward to working with them again. Thank you!

5 1 5 10/20/2022

Anthony made the booking easy and kept us fully informed. Flight itself was definitely 5 start. Good plane, good crew, good weather. What more can one ask?

5 1 5 03/20/2020

Glenn was a fantastic resource who provided a comprehensive set of alternatives options, and was very proactive from the booking time to wheels down on arrival, very impressed

5 1 5 02/02/2017

As a part 135 operator, I have been doing business with Stratos Jets since it was founded by Joel Thomas in 2006. Since the first trip I could tell they were a different type of Jet brokerage. Joel and his team of aviation advisors have always conducted themselves with the highest of standards and partnered with platinum operators like us to give their customers a luxurious private jet experience. Thank you for a decade of partnership and excellence. Thank you for your friendship! Rich Brennan VP of Sales

5 1 5 12/18/2017

Everyone was great

5 1 5 07/07/2014

Keep up the good work

5 1 5 07/14/2020

All members of the team communicated extremely well. I worked with Steve to get my flight booked and he checked in with helpful texts and updates along the way. Highly recommend.

5 1 5 05/31/2022

Timely, efficient customer service, perfectly executed departure and arrival, concierge service no hassle and easy

5 1 5 09/04/2020

Hey Joel, First of all, thank you very much for sending this trip our way. We really appreciate your business, especially in these strange times. Both your sales team and trip management team were very responsive and quickly gave us all the info we needed. That ultimately helped us provide the best trip for your passengers. Thanks again, hope to talk soon.

5 1 5 02/23/2020

Easy booking/cost effective/always takes care of all problems

5 1 5 06/14/2021

We felt everything went well. However, at the beginning of the process we kept asking your Team to reach out to everyone on the e-mail thread and that took a little bit to get that aspect corrected ! However, once that took place it seemed like everything was smooth from that point forward. Joel and Glenn, Thank you both of you and your Team for the business ! We truly appreciate !

5 1 5 08/05/2012

Toilet paper, Pillows and blankets

5 1 5 01/04/2019

I wouldn't recommend this plane that much though. One pilot was nice the other kinda ambivalent. The temp of the plane was either hot or cold and the electrical plugs not functioning. It was transportation only. But we are so happy to all be here with the rest of the family. it was worth the effort.

5 1 5 07/03/2022

Looking forward to our next booking with you! Professionalism at its finest!

5 1 5 10/06/2013

While this was the first time between these two cities, we may take this route frequently in the future.

5 1 5 08/19/2014

Everybody was great. The plane could use a bit of a face lift, but since we were transporting eight animals, it was okay. I would definitely recommend Stratos to anyone who asks.

5 1 5 07/14/2020

5 1 5 02/02/2017

I have dealt with Stratos Jet for the past 10 years Always great response and outstanding service Highly recommend them for any charter service you may need

5 1 5 01/20/2022

Worked with Glenn and he really worked to find the right plane at the right time! Aircraft crew were professional and courteous. Two great cross country flights.

5 1 5 05/17/2020

Plane was not clean. One pilot claimed to have a mask but never wore it, despite being told to. My booking with Stratos was clear and should have been obvious even if I hadn’t specifically asked for a clean plane and a masked crew. My wife and I neither ate (to not remove our masks) nor used the bathroom ( the unmasked pilot had to use the bathroom shortly after departure). By far our most uncomfortable air travel made worse by the fact that it was private.

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Thank you for bringing this to our attention.  I appreciate the feedback and opportunity for me to address this with the air carrier. I have contacted them and shared your experience with them.  Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us.  While operating in this COVID-19 environment brings new challenges; sharing your experience, has allowed Stratos to identify opportunities to improve the customer experience by implementing several pro-active steps as well as additional QA requirements on the day of flight.  We sincerely appreciate our relationship with you and your willingness to help us get better every day! 

 

Soar Higher - Joel A. Thomas / CEO

5 1 5 05/03/2018

Stratos arranged a private jet to Toronto for me last minute. Everything went well and the Challenger 300 was very nice. Thank you

5 1 5 02/21/2022

Great partnership and always a pleasure working with your team! We are all looking forward to many more.

5 1 5 09/17/2021

The flight was extremely, even surprisingly, comfortable. The crew was fantastic--professional and courteous. The agent's support was extremely thorough and professional: explanations, details and assistance with car rental was much appreciated. We will highly recommend these services to others.

5 1 5 11/28/2019

Joel and his team fire on all cylinders at all times. Every detail of the trip is always handled and communication is very proactive. We have special requests all of the time from exact wheels up times to ground transport changes and the team handles our trip with ease. I cannot recommend the Stratos Team enough and the value you get far exceeds our past charter and membership experiences. Thank you again Stratos Team

5 1 5 09/01/2018

Excellent service across the board. I will always fly with StratosJets, and will gladly recommend you to my friends.

5 1 5 02/05/2021

Great trip all round. Glenn and the team were terrific. The crew on the day were amazing.

5 1 5 01/16/2018

Working with Stratos vs other jet charter companies lends a personal touch that seems lacking in others. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Stratos to friends.

5 1 5 05/03/2021

Stratos was great and we for sure will recommend our broker to our friends

5 1 5 03/23/2020

Kyle from Stratos Jet was great to deal with... quick responses....great service....great prices....A+ experience

5 1 5 08/22/2017

At last minute's notice I needed to find a private plane to get my elderly parents from Bangor, Maine to Atlanta. I googled charter companies and Stratos Charters was first to pop up. I called immediately and Joel (founder and president of company) answered. He could not have been more gracious and helpful. He was the perfect combination of professional and personable. Our charter was arranged and the trip went through seamlessly. Stratos Charter and Joel made a stressful situation into a very pleasant one for us. I highly recommend their services and will definitely use them in the future. Thank you to them!

5 1 5 01/01/2018

Once again, Stratos Jets provided perfect travel service with competitive prices! We needed to move a family member with memory loss and agitation from Boston to Houston on very short notice. Joel set everything up within 24 hours- a beautiful private jet, cars and drivers at both ends of the trip, a security detail plus catering. I am completely impressed with this company and will use them whenever I need private jet service. Thank you, Joel!

5 1 5 06/12/2021

We needed to book a same-day plane for employees and tools to provide urgent assistance to a customer. Zach was effective, proactive and cooperative in providing a solution, precise information and updates. Would recommend Stratos Jet anytime! Thank you!

5 1 5 05/03/2021

Randy was so helpful during my scheduling of this trip and kept me informed. I will recommend Randy to all of our associates. Thank you for your service

5 1 5 02/07/2018

This was a last minute medical request. Joel, who I have worked with in the past took time away from his vacation to assist me with a fight that met my needs exactly. He’s friendly and professional and a credit to any organization!

5 1 5 01/08/2023

Danny Morejon is a great facilitator who made this urgent flight possible within a matter of hours. He is also a good advocate for Stratos. Had it not been for the communication I had with him a few weeks ago when searching for flights, I wouldn’t have called back for assistance.

5 1 5 01/28/2022

Always a pleasure to work with the friendly staff. The communication is concise and timely. Looking forward to future bookings!

5 1 5 12/21/2021

Never left a review in our life but for the amount of money spent - really left a sour taste in our mouth. Complete lack of organization with plane in wrong FBO for departure, $1,000 rental car at wrong airport on arrival, just not nearly the level of service expected when spending over $10K for an hour and half hop -

5 1 5 09/17/2021

The flight was fabulous, fun, and delicious. The crew was fantastic--professional and courteous. The flight attendant was spectacular--warm, wonderful and extremely attentive. The agent's support was once again terrific, thoughtful and professional. We will highly recommend these services to others.

5 1 5 05/03/2018

My family has flown with you dozens of times. Everything, from booking, to the flights, to the follow-up shows that you care about your customers. I would definitely recommend Stratos & have already done so.

5 1 5 05/03/2021

Your whole operation is responsive and attentive, always good to deal with them

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To find further information on The Ins and Outs of Aircraft Insurance please contact our agent at 888-593-9066 or write to us here.


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