Britam Launches Pilot Loss of Licence Cover To Safeguard Aviators’ Careers

Britam General Insurance has introduced Kenya’s first loss-of-license insurance solution tailored for professional and trainee pilots, addressing a critical gap in financial protection for aviation professionals whose careers depend on maintaining medical fitness.

The comprehensive cover provides pilots with financial security in the event their license is suspended due to accident or illness, ensuring that a medical setback does not translate into complete loss of livelihood.

Kenya’s aviation sector has experienced steady growth in recent years, with an expanding community of commercial pilots serving both domestic and international routes. However, pilots face unique career vulnerabilities, as their ability to work hinges entirely on maintaining stringent medical standards set by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). A temporary medical condition or unexpected accident can ground a pilot indefinitely, leaving families without income during recovery periods.

“A pilot’s career is a significant investment, and the loss of their license, even temporarily, can have serious financial consequences,” said James Mbithi, CEO & Principal Officer, Britam General Insurance. Adding, “Our new Pilot Loss of License Cover is designed to provide peace of mind. It acts as a financial safety net, ensuring that an unforeseen illness or injury does not mean the end of a livelihood.”

Britam’s new solution, the first of its kind in Kenya and East Africa, addresses this vulnerability through two distinct coverage options, designed to support pilots registered under the KCAA.

The temporary loss of license cover provides financial support during periods when a pilot’s license is suspended due to illness or accident, covering incidents both on and off duty until retirement age. Under this option, pilots receive two per cent of the sum insured per month, for bodily injury or general illness, and 0.5 per cent per month for classified or psychological illness. The maximum benefit period for temporary disability is 12 months, with a 90-day waiting period.

For more serious cases, the permanent loss of license cover offers long-term financial protection when medical conditions permanently prevent a pilot from returning to the cockpit. This provides 100 per cent of the sum insured for permanent disability caused by bodily injury or general illness, and 25 per cent for classified or psychological illness. A 180-day waiting period applies, with benefits extending until retirement age.

The total sum insured is calculated at five times the pilot’s gross annual earnings to retirement, ensuring substantial financial protection proportionate to career earnings potential.

All pilots registered in Kenya under the KCAA and below the age of 65 are eligible to purchase the cover. The policy extends to various scenarios, including sports injuries, accidents outside work, and medical conditions that develop during a pilot’s career. Pilots with pre-existing conditions may still apply, though they must provide full disclosure and medical documentation for underwriting review.

The cover is designed to work as a top-up insurance, complementing any existing coverage pilots may have through their employers or individual policies, with no limitation on benefits received from other sources for permanent loss of license situations.

For non-Kenyan citizens working with Kenyan carriers, the cover remains valid only whilst employed by a Kenya-based scheduled air carrier. Coverage ceases if the pilot relocates to work for an overseas airline, even in a commercial pilot capacity.

Certain exclusions apply to the policy. Coverage does not extend to license loss resulting from criminal acts, deliberate exposure to danger (except when saving a life), active duty with armed forces, participation in war or terrorism, and undeclared pre-existing conditions. The policy also does not cover license suspension due to negligence or incompetence at work.

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