At Oshkosh, I’ve been scheduled for 8:30 am on Thursday, July 31 in the NATCA Pavilion Number 8.

The Arlington times are great; before the heat of the day and prior to the airshow distractions. At Oshkosh, it’s kinda early in the morning but again, the time is before the heat and humidity builds up and well before the competition with the airshow later in the day.

At each of these events I always make sure there’s plenty of time for those attending to share their ideas and questions. Often, others in the audience can provide first-hand experience of an issue or there’s someone attending who is an expert in an area in question.

If you can’t attend but have a question or issue you want to share with the participants, please send me an e-mail and I’ll do my best to get it in front of everyone.

I read with great interest your article on homeowner dues in airparks. I live on an airpark, and I have a question about dues paid by commercial enterprises on the airpark.

In our case,  the owner of a commercial - residential lot on the airpark resides on the lot, and he operates an aircraft maintenance business on the lot.

Do other airparks charge different homeowner dues for businesses located on the airstrip? A business creates more wear and tear on the airpark facilities and a business has the most to gain by having a well-maintained airpark. Our business owner is charged the same dues as all of the strictly residential property owners in the airpark.

I am curious to know how other airparks handle this situation.

Post your thoughts below.

Jon R Shimer writes:

The average AGL (Airport General Liability) policy we see starts at $1 million combined single limit, and more can usually be written. Each policy is tailored individually for each Homeowner/Airport/Airpark so I can’t be specific on rates. However there has been some modest decreases in premiums as competition is growing for this class of business.

The Homeowner’s coverages are generally written by a local agent for the home and we would write the “Aviation” side of the exposures as most homeowner policies exclude all things related to “Aviation”.

However, we can usually write the individual hangar with an apartment built inside. Our coverage typically written is for the Premises, Hangar and Contents, and any Aircraft. I don’t write homeowners’ policies but here again rates are different for each location. Florida will be a lot tougher and expensive to write than say a home in Iowa due to hurricane and flood exposures.

We would welcome the opportunity to quote aviation insurance needs of your Living With Your Plane subscribers. Thank you for giving Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR) an opportunity to respond to your questions.

Jon R. Shimer, Jr., Aviation Insurance Resources, POBox 32, Frederick, MD 21705, Phone: 877-247-7769, website: www.AIR-PROS.com and e-mail: JShimer@AIR-PROS.com

Norma Joyce explains:

I can’t answer all of your questions, but I can tell you that Airparks are difficult to find companies that will write Premises Liability for this risk. If you have an Airpark, the underwriter will want to know details regarding the runway, the security at the airpark (for example, is it fenced), the length and width of the runway, and how many residents - homes are there. They also want to know if the roads are taxiways and what activities are conducted at the Airpark. The policies normally will exclude all commercial uses and contests. The actual policy will only cover the runway, taxiways and ramp area, they compare the policy to a regular airport Premises Policy. They do not cover the houses, individual hangars, or roads in between.

Most of the small Airparks buy $1,000,000 Premises. If the Association supplies the residents with gas and oil they should carry Product Liability coverage. The Owner of the Airpark is usually the named insured and the Association is usually an Additional Insured.

The last quote I received on a large Airpark was $10,000,000 Premises for $5,700. The premium for most $1,000,000 Premises policies for would be $1,600 - 2,000.

Norma Joyce, AUA, POBox 35289, Greensboro, NC 27425 Phone: 800-727-3823. Website: www.auaonline.com

My wife and I are considering a relocation to a residential airpark in the west where I could continue my small architectural practice. 

If you happen to hear of a developer, investor or builder who might need an architect/resident on site for the project, I would appreciate the information.

Thanks for the ongoing news and updates.

Douglas Frazier
douglaslfrazier@yahoo.com

We presented two forums on residential airparks during the show and each was attended by about 100 individuals. There were lots of questions and indications that interest in residential airparks continues at a brisk pace.

At least two or three new airpark plans were revealed during the seminars and we’re added them to our listings of airports under construction or in the planning phase. Some of those in the list probably will actually be open during 2007.

Prices for airpark homes and lots continue very strong, despite the reports of housing slowdowns in non-aviation communities.

All this is exciting, positive information for those owning properties or looking to acquire them.

I’m a Mortgage Loan officer for a small Mortgage Broker company in Overgaard, AZ.

I’m looking for financing companies for aircraft hangers at our private airpark, Mogollon Airpark. I have lenders that will do the loans for the homes all day long, just not the hangers and I’m at my wits end trying to find the lenders for my potential customers.

Any help you can provide will be GREATLY appreciated!! I’m not looking for business, (if it came my way I wouldn’t turn it down) just some assistance.

Thank you so much!!

Denise Barker
Wholesale Lending LLC
MBBR 0108116
888-277-9660

This isn’t an unusual request so we decided to add it to the blog and see if there are folks out there interested in helping this group or others.

If you are interested in this Arizona project, contact Andy Cosentino at andycosentino@yahoo.com or 520-481-8981. We would also appreciate having your information on file at Living With Your Plane for the next folks who inquire.