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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0266.PDF
1/U0"TI APRIL 9, 191a. INSURANCE IF any proof were needed that aviation is recognised as among the practical things of everyday life, it surely lies in the fact that it is now possible for the aviator to take out insurance policies covering him against the inevitable risks that he runs in pursuance of his pastime. As may be seen from the business announcements that appear in the commercial pages of FLIGHT, we ourselves have arranged—in the interests of our readers, and particularly of that section who are active participators in the develop ment of the new science—to secure for them the most up-to-date methods of insurance that are available. At present the new " Flight Policy " covers third-party risks alone, i.e., it affords indemnity from claims arising out of possible injury accidentally done to members of the general public, or damage to property. And we think our readers will agree with us that this practically fills the bill for the time so far as the man who flies is himself concerned, since we may take it that in the nature of things the pioneer exponent of flight, who literally takes his life in his hands every time he leaves Mother Earth, has already made up his mind to face the personal risks he runs, and would seldom feel dis posed to pay so high a premium as would be necessary to secure compensation for any relatives of his in case of catastrophe. For this reason it is more or less imma terial to him whether or not he can obtain policies of insurance which will cover him financially—or his heirs —against the consequences of the risks he voluntarily runs, whereas it is an extremely serious matter to him— and is, moreover, comparatively inexpensive—to safe- gaard himself against possible legal liabilities for acci dental injury which he may cause to others who are not associated with him, or for damage he may do to their property. It is this that we have already succeeded in arranging in a manner which we believe will prove thoroughly satisfactory to most British aviators, inasmuch as the FLIGHT policy is drawn up on perfectly straight forward lines, and is free from vexatious conditions and restrictions. The matter of personal insurance for the aviator is one that will doubtless receive its proper meed of attention when the time comes, but rapidly as we are advancing towards the time when flight will be as much a part of our everyday life as motoring is now, the moment is not yet opportune for things to develop to quite such an extent as so drastic an innovation would imply. There are very many problems which affect the question, and put it, for the time being, outside the scope of practical politics. In the first place there is the question of premium. Even if it were possible to find underwriters who would be prepared to incur the risk of backing such a policy—which is very doubtful indeed—the cost to the insured would be so high as to be virtually prohibitive, and most would-be insurers would undoubtedly prefer to take their own risks. Another matter which would affect the payment of claims which might arise under such policies would be the difficulty of distinguishing between the bona-fide accident and the deliberate smash. In other ® ® Patents in Russia. FROM a Russian correspondent, Messrs. Stanley, Popplewell and Co., learn that there is now under consideration an amendment to the Russian patent law which will, if adopted, restrict, to a certain degree, at UP-TO-DATE. words, the question to be answered would be whether the death of the insured aviator was the result of accident or suicide. This is not quite as far-fetched as appears at first sight. It would be quite possible and not a little convenient for an insured person to do rather well for his people by insuring his life and making an aeroplane the instrument of a speedy way out of his troubles, financial and otherwise. And there is a good deal that is attractive in the idea, and which would without doubt appeal to a certain variety of crank with suicidal tendencies. It is all so beautifully simple— the principal actor goes up and comes down. What is left is gathered together, the papers glorify him as another martyr in the sacred cause of progress—and his people draw the insurance. It really sounds very nice and attractive to a certain kind of temperament. Returning to the consideration of what is practical and practicable, there are several interesting points connected with the special form of policy which we have arranged that are well worth mentioning, and that, needless to state, have a direct beneficial influence upon the premiums that have to be charged. One clause, for example, stipulates that unless the insured person holds a certificate of his competency as a pilot-aviator from one of the recognised aviation authorities, the indemnity under the policy will only hold good while he is in charge of an aeroplane within the limits of a proper practice ground. This at first sight might seem to be a somewhat unreasonable proviso, but it is really a very salutary and necessary limitation. It puts an automatic check on the comparative novice who might otherwise —fortified with the knowledge that whatever damage he might do would concern the underwriters rather than himself—when finding himself in the air for the first time, set off on a wild attempt to establish a new cross country record in ignorance of the real dangers incurred. And similarly another clause precludes the insured aviator from flying over or within the precincts of any city or town that has a greater population than five thousand—a stipulation which is in accord with the general feeling in aviation circles and with the expressed official opinion of the Royal Aero Club. It is an axiom that no aviator has any right to fly over thickly populated places, and in this matter, as in that of the novice aviator, it seems to us that to cover an aviator against the consequences of lack of judgment or good sense is putting temptation in the way of the more irresponsible. From what we have just said, it will be realised that FLIGHT has made an endeavour to obtain as reasonable a third party policy as possible with the leading under writers of the day, and that we now offer the benefits of this arrangement to any of our readers who desire to avail themselves of it. Careful attention will continuously be bestowed upon this very important question of in surance, and our readers may rest assured that in the interests of the industry, all FLIGHT policies of the future (as well as of the present) will ever have embodied in them all improvements that can reasonably be demanded. ® ® least, the extent of protection of patents granted for inventions in the domain of aeronautics. The amend ment will probably provide that all patented inventions relating in any way to airships may be freely employed by the Government in connection with the military dirigibles which are to be built.
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