by Chris Proudlove, SVP, Senior Underwriting Manager, February 21, 2025
Global Aerospace

 
When flying objects started to be spotted over New Jersey and surrounding states in mid-November 2024, speculation about what could be happening was wild. The resounding opinion of those who saw them hovering near their homes was that they were large drones roughly the size of a family car.

Some lawmakers asked for answers while most played it down, citing helicopters and stars as what the public were mistakenly identifying as something altogether more nefarious.

Ultimately, the White House announced on January 28 that, as so many had suspected, they were, in fact, drones and that the flights were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “for research and various other reasons.”

Regardless of the true reason for the flights and the wall of silence from officials at the time, these sightings set off a month of bad publicity for the drone industry in the U.S.

A Drone-Related Injury and Firefighting Interference

On December 21, a light show in Orlando, Florida went awry, resulting in a 7-year-old boy being struck and seriously injured by a drone. A preliminary report from the NTSB revealed that “combined errors” right before the show’s start led to a misaligned flight path.

On January 9, a water-dropping “super scooper” was grounded after it was hit and damaged by a civilian drone while flying over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The drone, and ultimately its owner, was identified from parts buried in the leading edge of the aircraft’s wing. A California man has since pleaded guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft and faces up to a year in federal prison.

Potential Drone Restrictions

Layered onto recent events is the ongoing threat of a mass restriction of Chinese drones in the U.S. Chinese companies (including the giant DJI, which dominates the industry) account for over 75% of the U.S. drone market. Banning them would upend the industry and create a huge vacuum.

This would indeed be bad news for drone operators and the myriad industries and companies that benefit from their utility. There are U.S. companies that offer similar products to DJI, but it would be hard for operators to make the switch and difficult for the manufacturers to keep up with demand to supply drones for photography flights through to agricultural spraying.

Why Drones Get Bad Press

A large part of the reason for much of the bad publicity that drones attract can be attributed to two competing factors. On the one hand, drones are widely accessible. From hobby stores and big box appliance chains to farm shops, it is easy to acquire a drone that provides a lot of utility for a couple of thousand dollars or less.

Opposing that ease of purchase is the complexity of rules that govern their flight. While the initial rules in the U.S., published in 2016 under CFR Part 107, were easy to digest and follow, the many changes and enhancements released in subsequent years have made compliance increasingly burdensome for operators.

As a leading insurer of unmanned aircraft, Global Aerospace witnesses several instances every week where operators, including Fortune 500 companies, struggle to comprehend exactly what is required of them to stay legal. Much of this lack of understanding appears to come from the tendency to scroll through headlines rather than delve into the details.

The rule that creates the most confusion relates to flights over people. With four categories of drones based on weight and other criteria, coupled with a complex waiver system that requires manufacturers to self-certify compliance, misunderstanding is rife.

Another area where it is easy to run into trouble is overseas flights. Small drones are highly portable, but there is little parity in regulations around the world. From an insurance perspective, any drone registered and based in a country will generally require local insurance. That means that a global corporation might need multiple small policies.

Stepped-Up Drone Regulation Enforcement

The uncertainty around regulations is certainly no excuse for illegal flights. However, it is becoming easier to differentiate between operators who innocently step over the line of illegality and those who make a habit of it.

Fortunately, officials in the U.S. are upping their enforcement game. In addition to the LA wildfire case, complaints have been filed in at least two other cases.

In the first, federal prosecutors filed a civil complaint against Michael DiCiurcio, the creator behind PhillyDroneLife, in early 2024. DiCiurcio is alleged to have repeatedly flown his drones through severe fog and wind at night and into controlled airspace by the Philadelphia International Airport, in addition to flying close to Center City skyscrapers and landmarks. According to the complaint, DiCiurcio received three warnings from the FAA and does not hold a remote pilot license.

Per the terms of the consent judgment finalized in late January 2025, DiCiurcio admitted to wrongdoing and agreed never to operate a small, unmanned aircraft system of any kind in the U.S.

As recently as February 2025, a Baltimore man is facing federal felony charges after authorities say he illegally flew a drone over M&T Bank Stadium, forcing a temporary suspension of the Ravens’ NFL Wild Card Game against the Steelers. The man has been charged with knowingly operating an unregistered drone, flying without an airman’s certificate, and violating U.S. National Defense Airspace, federal prosecutors announced.

Responsible Drone Operation Is Essential

The drone industry in the U.S. would benefit from a period of fewer news stories and relative stability. To stave off calls for widespread bans, compliance with the rules is a first step.

Wider enforcement is one aspect. Up to now, there has been little consequence for rogue operators flying recklessly. The other is education. There is an ongoing need to instill a sense of responsibility that comes with holding a pilot license and operating in the national airspace.

The next 12 months will be crucial for the U.S. drone industry at large. Let’s at least hope the drone operators can do their part to stay out of the headlines!

The 18th Annual Aviation Education & Career Expo hosted by Rider Jet Center awards over $183,000 in scholarships to young aviation and aerospace enthusiasts

Cypress, Texas – On November 20th, 2024, Rider Jet Center hosted the Aviation Education and Career Expo, drawing in
over 1,000 young enthusiasts aged 16-22 from the Mid-Atlantic region and nationwide. The Expo provided a dynamic
platform for future aviation and aerospace professionals to engage with more than 60 esteemed aviation
organizations, including universities, airlines, private aviation companies, and medical, military, and law enforcement
agencies.

Hundreds of students submitted essays vying for prestigious scholarship awards, including monetary flight training
lessons, tuition, and paid internships offered by Expo sponsors. Collectively, the 2024 sponsors awarded over
$183,000 in scholarships, bringing the Expo’s total to over $1.7 million in scholarships since 2009.

Julie O’Brien, VP of Business Development for Paragon Aviation Group and event co-founder, emphasized the Expo’s
transformative impact: “The Expo provides experiences, mentoring, and scholarships that inspire students to
discover and pursue their passion for the skies. I am thrilled to take this event to new levels through the Paragon
Aviation Group Network and our new partners at Rider Jet Center.”

The Expo is a unique opportunity for aspiring talents to interact directly with experts and discover a multitude of
career opportunities in the thriving aviation and aerospace sectors. Participants gained invaluable industry insights
through keynote speeches, live demonstrations, and interactive sessions.

Motivational speakers and presenters included:

• ProJet Aviation Cofounder and CEO Shye Gilad
• Ben Rider – Owner, Rider Jet Center
• Heidi Kemner – FAA Senior Air & Space Investigator
• Lisa Quinto – Corporate Flight Attendant
• John Geltinger – Director of Service Hub Operations, NetJets
• Vanessa Christie – US Navy Combat Veteran, CEO Prevailance
• Garda World Federal Services delighted attendees with a live K-9-unit demonstration, showcasing the value of working dogs to law enforcement agencies and public safety.

2024 Legacy Scholarship Awards honored:

• Leroy Homer Jr. – Veteran Air Force Pilot and First Officer of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked as part
  of the September 11 attacks in 2001 and crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 37 passengers and seven crewmembers, including LeRoy. We honor those heroes!
• Jason Emeric Brunsman -Jason Emeric Brunsman touched the lives of many with his deep passion and love for
  aviation. He was a Northern Virginia Community College student and achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the
  Civil Air Patrol. Jason served in various capacities, including Flight Sergeant, First Sergeant, Aerospace Officer, and Executive Officer. He was an active member of the Cyber Patriot team, Stellar Xplorers, and Honor Guard. Jason was also a former Expo Scholarship recipient.
• Yong Sung Park – The brother to Young Park – Owner of First Chime, In-Flight Catering, Vendor, and Scholarship
  Sponsor, Yong Sung inspired his sister to pursue her dreams and achieve greatness in the inflight catering industry,
  both in the US and abroad.

2024 Scholarship Winners

• Jeba Shaun Sahayadarlin – Bravo Flight Training
• Dylan Correia – Unmanned Safety Institute
• Maya Schweigert – Aero Elite
• Asher James – Mindstar Aviation
• Joshua Trias – Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Matthew Simpson – Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Joshua Michael Taylor- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Dominic Brunsman – The Hoxton Agency
• Juliana Godwin – Frederick Flight Center
• Benjamin Gonzollez-Torres – NetJets
• Simon Wedge – Aviation Adventures
• Juliana Godwin – Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
• Will Fadden – Goose Creek Aviation
• Julia Shi – Greater Washington Business Aviation Association
• Lylah Gwinn – Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
• Galen Belmar – St. Francis University
• Joshua Miles – St. Francis University
• Abdul Moiz Asif – St. Francis University
• Suvanjal Dhungana – St. Francis University
• Maya Schweigert – LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation
• Brandon Alvarez De La Cruz – First Chime In-flight Catering
• Akil Gunn – Jetlinx
• Connor James – Nulton
• Bella Serio – Career XPL
• Brinnay Nickola – AVI/BWIA
• Fatima Masood – ALPA
• Bradley Perez-Ramirez – Avyation Lab
• Blake McLaughlin – AOPA
• Caleb Montilla – Averett
• Virginia Grieb – Marywood

In addition to scholarships, numerous internships were awarded courtesy of:

• Aviation Influence
• Black Women in Aviation
• Bravo Flight Training
• Federal Aviation Association -FAA
• First Chime In-Flight Catering
• General Dynamics
• South Mountain Aviation
• STEM Flights

A special thank you to Toth Financial, 1st Chime in-flight catering, Little Caesars, The Grille at Runways, Costco, and
Harris Teeter for an amazing breakfast and lunch during the event.

For more information, visit www.projetaviation.com and click on “Aviation Expo”.

About The Aviation Education & Career Expo
The Aviation Education & Career Expo is one of the largest and most successful aviation education events in the
United States. Since its inception in 2005, the Expo has awarded over 1.6 million dollars in scholarships to high
school and college students pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. Co-founded by aviation professionals Julie
O’Brien and Sarah Thompson, the Expo is committed to helping students explore the many career opportunities
available through the world of flight.

Paragon Aviation Group is part of the globally operating Luxaviation Group, renowned for its excellence in a
comprehensive range of business aviation services. Luxaviation specializes in aircraft management for private and
commercial aircraft, private air charter services, and the management and operation of VIP passenger terminals. Our
extensive FBO network includes over 140 facilities worldwide.

Paragon is a leading provider of FBO support services within the general aviation industry. With a commitment to
elevating the customer experience, Paragon offers a diverse array of services tailored to meet the unique needs of
FBOs, handling agents, and aviation enthusiasts globally.

Their team, DC3, won three awards: Fastest Leg, Fastest Cessna and First Place overall in Debi’s Cessna 182. They beat 46 other teams to win the “overall winner” title.

The Air Race Classic is the USA’s only women’s air race. Pilots range in age from 17 to 99+ years old and come from a variety of backgrounds.

The race route changes every year, approximately 2,400 statue miles with 8 or 9 timing stops.

Our congratulations to Debi and Joy for their first place overall finish!

—-

Whether at industry conferences or at various trade shows, conventions, and fly-ins, colleagues and industry professionals agree that an urgent challenge facing the insurance industry today is how best to serve an aging pilot population.

The issue is not unique to aviation insurance. Auto insurers, for example, assess higher premiums to drivers who are under 25 and over 60. The justification behind this approach — in certain contexts, backed by actuarial studies — is that reaction times often degrade as we get older, and experience is a key component for the younger end of the spectrum.

From an underwriting perspective, this is only one of many factors that may form part of a risk assessment. Costs to repair, downtime, parts availability, and rising costs are additional considerations that present industry wide hurdles. Age is just another component to consider.

Older… and Wiser

Any conversation about age and flying must be balanced in presenting the data. It’s true that the number of accidents increases for pilots 55 and older. However, older adults tend to have more free time and disposable income, so the increase may be explained by the flying frequency.

What’s more, the decades of experience that most older pilots have may offset the increase in their reaction times and other skills. Consequently, it’s not fair or accurate to draw a straight line from “Top of Their Game” to “Grounded” on an age graph. Plus, because pilots are required to have routine FAA medical or BasicMed exams, pilots are often healthier than the average person, so comparisons to the age-related skill loss in non-pilots are of little value.

How To Stay Airborne as You Age

What can pilots do to ensure they can continue pursuing their passion for flight as they age? As a first step, training and setting personal limits are the factors easiest to control. Any pilot, regardless of age, should consider when and how to gradually modify their flying habits to stay in sync with their skills.

Steps for staying safely airborne include:

• Get ongoing training. Whether with a Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) or an equivalent process, more frequent training beyond a Biennial Flight Review (BFR)—which is a requirement for pilots to maintain their license and competency—is recommended. These are commonly seen as minimum best practices.
• Know your limits. This may mean operating an aircraft that matches both mission and ability, and utilizing insights from industry experts and peers.
• Modify your missions. Taking shorter flights (especially on cross-country treks) and giving yourself more time to complete them can make flying safer and more enjoyable.
• Carefully choose your flight paths and conditions. If possible, avoid busy airspace and fly when the air is smoothest.
• Have a copilot. This is particularly important with IFR flights.

How Insurers Help Older Pilots Keep Flying

From the insurance provider and broker perspectives, there are ways to construct a policy appropriate to the risk profile. This can include deductibles, two-crew/mentor pilot requirements and liability-only options, to name just a just a few. These solutions can be worked out with your insurance broker or agent.

There are companies that will continue to provide coverage if there are no major changes to the risk. You should establish a long-term relationship with those carriers as you get older.

Addressing an Age-Old Problem: Planning Is the Key

Pilots are methodical by nature; you have to be. Your safety and that of everyone affected by your flights requires it. That same proactive approach is vital when it comes to identifying and addressing age-related challenges.

Fortunately, you can stay airborne by continuing your training, ensuring the flights you take and equipment you use are commensurate with your skills and working with an insurer and a broker committed to helping you keep flying

This article was originally published on July 19, 1997. The CUB is still going strong 26 years later!

Originally Larry Omps predicted it would take him years to restore the 1946 J-3 Piper Cub airplane. Yet, after a winter’s worth of work, the place was restored. What arrived in pieces was again whole.

Hurricane damage alone has cost the insurance market billions of dollars in recent years, and there’s no indication that things will improve soon. In fact, the frequency and severity of storms and the resulting financial consequences are increasing every year.

Fortunately, you can take steps to lower the risk to your aircraft. Check out this informative article from Global Aerospace on how to mitigate your hurricane risk. 

Informative article from Global Aerospace which provides crucial pre-flight checklist for pilots that provides valuable information about the insurance claims process.  Enjoy!

The 16th annual event showcased exciting careers in aviation and aerospace to students in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

ProJet Aviation hosted the 16^th annual Aviation Education & Career Expo at the Leesburg Executive Airport. More than 800 students, educators, and parents attended the Expo, which is designed to educate young adults (ages 16-22) about exciting careers in aviation. The event featured keynote speakers, live demonstrations, and representatives from over 70 aviation organizations, including the US military, emergency medical airlift, law enforcement, maintenance/avionics repair, government agencies, private aviation, and more. “The theme for this year’s event was – THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT,” said ProJet Aviation’s Julie O’Brien, Co-founder of the event. “We work with our sponsors to provide experiences, mentoring, and scholarships that inspire students to discover and pursue their passion for the skies.”

The Aviation Education and Career Expo is a unique opportunity for students interested in the aviation/aerospace industry to explore numerous career paths and talk one-on-one with industry experts.  Students get an “up close and personal” look at occupations that are in high demand in the United States and worldwide.

Guest speakers and demonstrators included:

– ProJet Aviation’s CEO, Shye Gilad

– Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk

– The US Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team

– PHI Medevac Air Care 3

– Emily Daniel, Agricultural Pilot and Demonstrator

– Garda World Federal Services – K-9 Unit

– The US Army Golden Knights Parachute Jump Team

– Heidi Kemner, NTSB Accident Investigator

– Frank Culbertson, Retired NASA Astronaut and Commander of the International Space Station

There were four Legacy scholarship awards this year, honoring some amazing people that gave so much to this industry. True heroes, both nationally and locally:

• Sarah Thompson – Original Co-Founder of the Aviation Education Expo
• Joe Goodin – A Naval Aviator local to Leesburg and a mentor to students through the Young Eagles program
• Paul Davy – USAF officer and later the Director of Marketing and Business Development for Port City Air in NH
• Elaine D. Harmon – WWII WASP, received the Congressional Gold Medal and was afforded full military honors at Arlington National Cemetary

This year’s 2022 scholarship winners and their sponsors:

• $631 to Mackenzie Taylor from Aviation Adventures
• $1K to Rahul Kagalwala from Aero Elite Flight Training
• $2500 to Logan Reuter from Open Air Flight Training, The Aviation Foundation, and Cirrus Aircraft Sales
• 2,850 to Navid Farzanpay from Bravo Flight Training
• $1K to Brennay Nicola from Women in Aviation
• $1K to Stephen Wilson from Goose Creek Aviation
• $1K to Nicholas Baker from Air Line Pilot’s Association
• $1,500 to Navid Farzanpay from JetLinx and Direct Tailwinds
• $2K to Aesha Kapoor from Paragon Aviation Detailing
• $2K to Jabari Brown from Paragon Aviation Group
• $2K to Akul Singhal Paragon Aviation Group and Port City Air
• $2K to Myles Olsen from Smokehouse Pilot’s Club
• $2,500 to Christopher Alexander from the Greater Washington Business Aviation Association
• $4K to Jaye Datan from ProJet Aviation, The Hoxton Agency, AOPA and Avemco Insurance
• $5K to Lawson Hambrick from Paramount Business Jets
• $5K to Ashley Nguyen from Pelican Aircraft Consulting
• $1K to Connor Sloan from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
• $3K to Francis Gordon from the Unmanned Safety Institute
• $3,500 to Luke Manson from 1^st Chime Prive’ In-Flight Catering and the Community College of Baltimore County
• $8K to Austin Rhodes from Saint Francis University
• $8K to Nathanial Denault frof Saint Francis University
• $20K to Bea Isabelle Kee from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
• $20K to Ian Powell from Marywood University
• $20K to Kartikeya Vinaykumar from Averett Univeristy
• $20K to Samantha Smith to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

In addition to scholarships, numerous paid internships were also available and awarded. Toth Financial, Weird Bros. Coffee, and 1^st Chime in-flight catering, Little Caesars, Passion Fin, COSTCO and Wegman’s sponsored breakfast and lunch for the students as well as vendors. Sarah Thompson’s family was awarded the honorary Jump Baton, by the US Army Knights, for the pivotal role that she played in founding this amazing event.   

About The Aviation Education & Career Expo

The Aviation Education & Career Expo is one of the largest and most successful aviation education events in the United States, awarding to date, over $1.3 million dollars in scholarships to high school and college students pursuing careers in the aviation and aerospace industry, since its inception in 2005. Cofounded by aviation professionals Julie O’Brien and Sarah Thompson, the Expo is committed to helping students explore the many career opportunities available to them through the world of flight. The Aviation Education & Career Expo is hosted by ProJet Aviation at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), in Leesburg, VA.

About ProJet Aviation

ProJet Aviation is the DC metro region’s premier aviation hospitality company, dedicated to helping people accomplish extraordinary things through the wonder of flight. The company operates ProJet Center, a Fixed Base Operation (FBO), at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), general aviation’s gateway to Washington DC, Dulles, and Virginia’s Horse & Wine Country. Established in 2007 as a partnership between former airline pilot, educator, and entrepreneur Shye Gilad, and noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, ProJet Aviation combines the operational integrity of the world’s best airlines with the refined service of a world-class resort. ProJet’s numerous accolades include recognition as a Washington Business Journal Best Place to Work, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Service Business of the Year, and an Inc. 500/5000 Fastest Growing Company.

Corporate Sponsors for the event Included: Aero Elite, Aero Training Center, Air Line Pilot’s Association, Avemco, Avfuel, Aviation Adventures, Bravo Flight Training, Cirrus Aircraft Sales, FBO Partners, Fly Advanced, General Dynamics, , Hoxton Agency, Jet Linx, MWAA, NBAA, Nulton Aviation Flight Academy, Open Air, Paragon Aviation Group, Paramount Business Jets, ProJet Aviation, Smokehouse Pilots, Teamsters Airline Division, Toth Financial, Unmanned Safety Institute, USAIG, Vaughn College, Winchester Regional, and Women in Aviation.