The ACORD 163 Aviation Section captures the aircraft, pilot, use, and liability details needed to quote specialty aviation coverage. Standard commercial GL and auto policies generally exclude aircraft-related liability and hull damage, so businesses that own, operate, charter, or regularly use aircraft need this exposure documented accurately.
Auto-populate ACORD 163, collect the missing underwriting details, and send a polished client intake link in minutes.
The ACORD 163 is needed for: • Businesses that own corporate or business aircraft • Companies that regularly charter aircraft for business purposes • Agricultural operations with crop-dusting or aerial application aircraft • Flight schools and aircraft rental operations • Fixed base operators (FBOs) • Helicopter operators and services • Businesses with aircraft hangars or airfield facilities • Drone operators with commercial operations (larger commercial drones)
Identify every aircraft and its ownership or lease arrangement, then record year, make, model, registration, hull value, and intended use. Collect pilot names, certificates, ratings, total and recent flight hours, and any restrictions. Add passenger, cargo, charter, aerial application, hangar, non-owned aircraft, territory, requested liability limits, deductibles, and prior aviation losses so the underwriter can evaluate the complete exposure.
Standard commercial GL policies contain an aviation exclusion that eliminates liability coverage for bodily injury or property damage arising from aircraft operations. This includes:
• Liability for injuries to passengers in owned or non-owned aircraft • Liability for ground damage caused by aircraft operations • Liability arising from aerial application or spraying
This exclusion means any business that uses aircraft — even occasionally in a chartered aircraft — has an uncovered liability exposure for aircraft-related incidents. Aviation liability insurance fills this gap.
Complete one real commercial submission at no cost. AgencyAssist helps collect client information, identify missing underwriting details, and prepare ACORD forms.
Hull coverage is the physical damage coverage for the aircraft itself — the equivalent of comprehensive and collision for automobiles. Aircraft hull is almost always written in combination with aviation liability.
Hull coverage can be written as:
All risk (ground and flight) — covers the aircraft against all physical damage risks whether on the ground or in the air.
All risk not in motion — covers the aircraft when parked, taxiing, or being towed, but not when in flight.
Not in motion — covers the aircraft only when it is stationary.
For most business owners, all risk ground and flight is the appropriate choice, though it is also the most expensive.
Non-owned aircraft liability covers the insured's liability for aircraft they do not own but use — typically chartered aircraft or aircraft rented by employees for business purposes.
This is an important coverage that many businesses miss. If a company rents a plane for a business trip and the rental aircraft is involved in an accident, the company may have liability exposure as the charterer.
Non-owned aircraft coverage can often be added to a commercial GL or umbrella policy by endorsement, which is simpler than a full aviation policy for businesses that don't own their own aircraft.
Not asking commercial clients whether they own or regularly use aircraft — this exposure is often undisclosed
Assuming the GL umbrella covers chartered aircraft liability
Not securing non-owned aircraft liability for executives who regularly use charter services
Undervaluing hull coverage on business aircraft — replacement costs can exceed $1M for modern business jets
Not asking agricultural operations about aerial application aircraft
Send your client a plain-English intake link. When they finish, the completed ACORD 163 and all required companion forms are generated and ready to submit.