Britam General Insurance has recently launched Kenya’s first ever specialized insurance product called the Pilot Loss of License Cover, designed to provide financial compensation to pilots and aviation trainees who are grounded due to illness or injury that renders them medically unfit to fly. This innovative cover addresses a critical gap in the aviation insurance market by protecting the livelihoods of pilots whose careers depend heavily on stringent medical fitness requirements enforced by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Losing a pilot’s license temporarily or permanently due to medical reasons is a significant risk that can abruptly cut off their income stream, and Britam’s new product aims to cushion this financial impact.
According to Britam’s aviation brochure, the insurance policy offers two main types of cover: temporary and permanent loss of license. The temporary cover helps pilots during periods when their license is suspended because of health issues. It provides monthly payments amounting to 2.0% of the insured sum for physical illness or injury and 0.5% for psychological illness, payable for up to 12 months while the pilot undergoes recovery or treatment. This monthly benefit acts as a crucial income replacement during the downtime, providing a financial cushion that can assist with everyday expenses and medical costs. In contrast, the permanent loss of license cover caters for pilots whose medical condition permanently disqualifies them from flying. In such cases, the policy pays out 100.0% of the insured amount for total physical disability and 25.0% for psychological illness, with benefits extending until retirement age, offering long-term financial security.
The total insured amount under the policy is calculated as five times the pilot’s annual income, ensuring that the coverage is proportional to the pilot’s career earnings and provides a sufficient sum to support them through the loss of income. Coverage applies to incidents occurring both on and off duty, supporting pilots through various scenarios such as accidents, illness, or even sports injuries. Notably, the policy also offers the possibility for pilots with pre-existing conditions to apply, subject to full disclosure and medical underwriting, broadening access to the insurance protection.
Eligibility for the cover requires pilots to be registered with the KCAA and under the age of 65. The insurance is valid both for Kenyan and foreign pilots employed by Kenyan carriers, although non-Kenyan pilots lose coverage if they relocate to work with foreign airlines. This reflects Britam’s intention to support the local aviation workforce specifically. The policy excludes coverage for license loss resulting from criminal acts, negligence, war, terrorism, deliberate danger exposure, and undeclared pre-existing conditions, establishing clear boundaries for claims.
