Charlie K. Says:  "I have bad news and good news"

Group,

I'm not one to comment much on things, but I think Charlie is right - AIG is not in the Lancair insurance business.  The prices they are coming back with say exactly that.  My quote was $11K back in December '08.

I think Joe did a good job selling the idea of insurance for Lancairs to AIG, but I believe AIG had "blinders" on in the equation.  I don't understand why only one person or company is qualified to inspect Lancairs - especially when the FAA allows DARs (that they approve) to inspect and certify airplanes.  If the DAR inspection is good enough for the FAA, why isn't it good enough for AIG?  What can Tim Wilson find wrong with an airplane that you can't find?  I would have bet that my airplane was "squawk free" before Charlie came to inspect, but I was wrong.  What I had inspecting my airplane was a DAR with over 15 years Lancair experience - isn't that worth something?  This is where the "blinders" part of the equation is quite evident.

I believe Joe when he says that having Tim travel around the country is not a good use of his time and experience.  That is why there are DARs - that is their job.  Tim is not a DAR and can only do an "inspection", so there is a duplication of effort and expense in getting your airworthiness certificate issued.  Granted, not all DARs are "Lancair Qualified", but Charlie is - I don't understand AIG's reluctance to accept his inspections.  Oh well, greater minds (??) have made these decisions.

I, for one, don't mind the training - I have even signed up for the HPAT ground course in Manteo, NC (4/18/09) - I'm sure I will learn something.  I don't even mind the inspections (please expand the inspector list) - BUT, I sure hate to have them rammed down my throat.  We have enough people (FAA and other government entities) telling us what we have to do - we sure don't need another one.

Ed Smith
Chesapeake, VA
N9JE