I booked a job filming a music festival. The stadium management sent me a contract: “Vendor must maintain $5 Million Aviation Liability.” My app only goes to $2M. I can’t accept the job without the insurance.
Key Takeaways
- Excess Liability (Umbrella): You need an “Excess” policy to stack on top of your primary. If you have $2M primary, you need a $3M Excess layer.
- Apps Don’t Stack: You usually can’t buy two $2.5M policies from Verifly. You need a broker to write a custom Excess tower.
- Time Lag: Excess policies take days to underwrite. You cannot get this 1 hour before the gig.
- Cost: The first $1M of coverage is cheap ($600). The next $4M is cheaper per million but still adds $1,000–$2,000 to the premium.
The “Why” (The Trap): “Primary and Non-Contributory”
Venues demand your insurance be “Primary and Non-Contributory.”
This means your insurance pays first, and does not ask the venue’s insurance to chip in.
If you buy a cheap policy that doesn’t have this clause, the venue will reject your COI.
The Investigation: “I Called Them”
I tried to get $5M coverage fast.
1. SkyWatch
- Limit: Max $5M (in some states/profiles).
- Verdict: The easiest option if you qualify.
2. Aviation Broker (Transport Risk)
- Limit: Can build $10M+.
- Timeline: 48-72 hours.
- Verdict: Essential for stadium gigs.
3. “Buy-In” to Event Policy
- Option: Sometimes the festival can add you to their policy for a fee.
- Verdict: Ask the promoter. It might be cheaper.
Comparison Table: High Limit Costs
| Limit | Est. Annual Cost | Availability |
| $1 Million | $600 – $800 | Apps / Standard |
| $2 Million | $1,000 | Apps / Standard |
| $5 Million | $2,500+ | Broker / Specialist |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Ask for the Contract Early: Don’t wait. Ask “What are the insurance requirements?” during the first bid.
- Contact a Broker: If you need >$5M, call a human broker at Global Aerospace or similar.
- Charge the Client: Pass the premium cost to the client. Line item: “Insurance Compliance Fee: $500.”
- Verify “Non-Contributory” Wording: Ensure your COI explicitly states this.
FAQ
Q: Why do they need $5 Million?
A: If a drone falls into a crowd, it can injure multiple people. $1M is gone in seconds.
Q: Can I lower it after the gig?
A: Annual policies? No, usually earned in full. On-demand? Yes, you just buy it for the day.
[IMAGE: Screenshot of a Certificate of Insurance showing “$5,000,000 Each Occurrence.”]