If I rent a facility for an indoor fly and have all pilots sign a waiver, do they need to have AMA?

Well, Gene, they don't need to have anything. It usually depends on the facility you decide to rent with, they may require insurance. But, it seems a prudent idea to get the insurance document from the AMA.

When we do a demo flight away from our field, for instance, we usually are requested to participate in the Ocean City, NJ Airfest every September. We usually get in touch with the AMA well in advance to get the liability insurance necessary for a public event.

Now, this is liability insurance that covers us in case something happens to someone in the crowd. If your plans are for a private thing, pilots only, and if they all have a current AMA card, it may not be necessary.

I'm sure someone will chime in here and give differing opinions, perhaps RCKen or Minnflyer has something to add to this.

Dick (CGr)

Well, Gene, they don't need to have anything. It usually depends on the facility you decide to rent with, they may require insurance. But, it seems a prudent idea to get the insurance document from the AMA.

When we do a demo flight away from our field, for instance, we usually are requested to participate in the Ocean City, NJ Airfest every September. We usually get in touch with the AMA well in advance to get the liability insurance necessary for a public event.

Now, this is liability insurance that covers us in case something happens to someone in the crowd. If your plans are for a private thing, pilots only, and if they all have a current AMA card, it may not be necessary.

I'm sure someone will chime in here and give differing opinions, perhaps RCKen or Minnflyer has something to add to this.

Dick (CGr)

One thing AMA insurance has been doing forever is making the site owner happier about who they're inviting as guests onto their property. We're guests everwhere we go and we do something that's often a bit strange to the landowners. It's often an unknown to them. Explaining our hobby and then playing the "we have insurance to protect you" card goes a long way. I've been a member of a lot of clubs and I really can't remember a one that didn't get their flying site without the help that argument gave.

Seems like the smart thing to do anyway. Liability waivers mean jack squat in civil court, so defending against one lawsuit will bankrupt most any small club. Besides, would the club have the resources to repair the building if something were to happen?

As the others above have stated, it's going to depend on the venue. If you have to provide liability insurance for that event you have two choices. Purchase your own liability policy from an insurance company or you use the AMA's flying site coverage. If you use private insurance you can decide on your own whether you want to require AMA membership for those that participate and fly. However, if you use the AMA's insurance you don't have a choice in the matter, all those flying will be required to be an AMA member.

Or club rents a gym from the local collage once a month for indoor events and we are required to have liability insurance for this. It's much easier to use the AMA coverage than having to hassle with trying to get our own policy.

Ken

If being able to hand the site owner an insurance rider specifically naming him as insured aginst liability and it is primary insurance for him means anything in the ability for you to obtain the site then yes you will need to obtain a sanction for the event and require ama membership from the participants.

If you don,t need this to obtain the site then no you don,t need to do anything.

John

Thanks Guys

bottom line for us is: No AMA=No Fly.

If you do need that insurance rider for the site owner and this is not your listed site for your ama chartered club then you will need to run an event sanction for the dates of that event and will need a contest director. It makes no diff if its a competive or non competitive event.

An already existing rider for your clubs main site owner will not apply to another site owner unless you run a sanction for the event and obtain the sanction and additional rider.

John

John
are you saying that if I rent this facility, not by the club, that I need to call AMA and have a contest director? This is not a club event. Just renting a facility and saying to the public if you want to fly, have AMA and your money for the 3 or 4 hours. Sounds like I might as well go up to my local High School gym and fly by myself.

You do not need to have a sanctioned event with contest director to get the insurance rider. Use AMA document 305 - Application for Insuring Flying Site Owners or Events Sponsors and fill out the dates. It costs $20

Stan

Stan may well be correct on that point but you will not be able to obtain an insurance rider naming the property owner as a primary insured unless you do go through the additional insured process he described and pay the fee or go the sanction process.

Our club has provided public static displays and some years flying displays at the municipal full scale airshow for some years and I served as the CD as an easy route to obtain the AMA class D (display) sanction and the all important insurance rider naming the Airport Authority without which we could not participate.


If your property owner does not require this covering his liability then you are on your own of couse. Historically the ability to obtain these insurance riders naming property owners as primary insureds is a key factor in obtaining any location for any events or displays or even flying fields. One of the two ama methods above have been the simplest methods of doing this.

I wish you well with your event or happening and admire your enthusiasm.

John