Page 14 - January 2015 Volume 9, Number1

Airplanes, Cars, and Tugs do Collide ...
so Who Pays?
by Kyle White
The crew of a King Air 350 arrived at their but it appears the GPS antenna on the car did quite a
destination, met with the professional ground
crew and advised them they would be there overnight. The FBO asked if they’d like to have the aircraft put in the hangar for the night, but the crew, knowing the pleasant forecast for the evening and morning declined, electing to leave the airplane on the ramp. Why not save the owner a few dollars?
After securing the covers, locking the door, making sure the parking brake was off, and completing the “contact form” at the FBO counter, they were free until morning. However, that evening at the hotel, the phone rang. What could the FBO possibly need at such a late hour?
bit of damage to the aileron. You should probably come out here and take a look to see if you need to make alternate arrangements for your passengers.”
Once you get to the airport and see the damage, you recognize immediately that alternate travel arrangements will be needed, as the King Air is not airworthy. After completing new travel arrangements for the passengers, you are now left to figure out how to get your aircraft repaired and who will be paying the bill. Will this damage be paid for by the FBO, the driver of the car, or the policy on your King Air? That depends ...
The person or entity operating the car will have the means/coverage to fix your airplane if they have an aircraft policy that has coverage to extend to “On Airport Premises Automobile Liability.” This section of the aircraft policy states, “...Policy is
“Captain, this is ‘we don’t want to be named’ FBO.
I’m calling because there is a problem with your
King Air. A car was driving to an airplane and drove
under your left wing. They wrongly assumed they had
sufficient clearance between the roof and the wing tip, amended to include coverage for your ownership,
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2015