A large passenger aircraft plying in an airline on scheduled services over regular routes. Travel as a passenger on such aircraft is not normally excluded under personal accident insurance policies.

policy An aviation policy covering: 1. Premises legal liability to protect the insured against claims arising out of the use of his premises by third parties or passengers; 2. Hangar-keepers’ legal liability in respect of the insured’s liability as a bailee for aircraft and equipment on the ground; 3. Products’ legal liability to cover the risk associated with servicing or repairing aircraft or sale of fuel; 4. ‘Control tower liability’ is also covered. Cover can be extended to cover consequential loss following unexpected closure of the airport.

Means being on the ‘apron’ of an airport making contact with aircraft possible. A motor insurer might in some circumstances exclude all liability from accidents while the insured vehicle is airside. In contract works insurance where the site of the work is at an airport, insurers will take a more stringent view of the work than the same work landside (no contact with aircraft).

ARB advises the Civil Aviation Authority on ‘design, construction, and maintenance of aircraft and all related matters.

It is implied in all aviation policies that aircraft are maintained to specified standards following procedures laid down by the aircraft manufacturers in conjunction with the relevant civil aviation authority. The airline must keep maintenance records. Aircraft and engine manufacturers also specify the parameters for an aircraft’s operation. If an airline breaches any of these requirements the policy may be invalidated.