Understanding EAA’s Chapter General Liability Insurance Program

July 2020 – EAA's Chapter General Liability Insurance Program protects chapters, their members, officers, directors, and volunteers from alleged negligence. Participation in this insurance program is mandatory for all chapters located in the United States and Canada. A policy limit of $1 million to $3 million is available.

The insurance policy provides comprehensive general liability coverage seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and extends liability coverage to chapters that own or lease a clubhouse, hangar, or both. This insurance policy also includes, without any additional premium, coverage for approved chapter events.

As your chapter begins to reopen following the COVID-19 shutdowns, it is important to review the EAA chapter approved activities. Often, chapters come up with new and exciting ideas, only to find that EAA's chapter insurance does not cover the planned activities. There is nothing worse than getting deep into event planning, only to find out that the desired activities are prohibited. You can find a full listing of approved chapter activities at EAA.org/chapterinsurance.

Another critical aspect of the insurance program is chapter involvement with other entities. EAA strictly prohibits chapter co-mingling with other organizations. But, what does that actually mean? Does it mean your chapter cannot coordinate with the local airport to serve pancakes and fly Young Eagles at an airport day?

Co-mingling is defined as two or more entities sharing the planning, ownership, and control of an event. To avoid co-mingling, one entity must own the event, and the other entity is simply a participant. For example, if your chapter is participating in an airport event, the airport owns the overall control of the event and carries the event insurance. The chapter is simply acting as a participant by providing pancakes and Young Eagles flights at the event. The chapter will still apply for event insurance for these activities.

On the other side, the chapter may own the control of a pancake breakfast fly-in, but the CAP is on hand to help park airplanes. In this instance, the chapter owns the control of the event, and carries the event insurance. The CAP is simply participating in the chapter's event. In both cases, only one entity is the primary sponsor and organizer of the event. There is no co-ownership or co-sponsorship.

To ensure your chapter is avoiding co-mingling and any prohibited activities, you must file event insurance for all chapter events. Yes, even monthly gatherings. This is especially important as chapters reopen following COVID shutdowns, as EAA will ask the chapter to follow all local guidelines. Chapters should file for event insurance no later than 30 days prior to an event. The event insurance form is found at EAA.org/chapterinsurance.

Navigating the waters of risk management and insurance can get pretty murky at times, so EAA always encourages you to contact us with any questions. Email us at chapterinsurance@eaa.org or call 920-426-5912.