Good News for Private Aviation: Group Insurance and Regulatory Progress
FEMPPA announced a group liability insurance program for private aircraft designed to reduce costs and simplify administrative procedures with the DGAC. The document also reports on progress achieved during a meeting at the Mexican Senate aimed at improving private aviation operations and highlights the publication of several proposed Mexican aviation standards that could significantly affect the sector.
GOOD NEWS
By Luisa Romero
INSURANCE POLICY
The Civil Aviation Law requires every aircraft registered in Mexico to carry a civil liability insurance policy with coverage equivalent to 56,900 days of the minimum wage in Mexico City, representing slightly less than 2.2 million pesos.
FEMPPA conducted a bidding process and invited some of the most respected aviation insurance brokers in Mexico to participate, seeking the most economical policy with the best service. Alexander Forbes México Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V. was selected and has developed and registered FEMPPA’s group insurance policy with the DGAC.
What benefits can I obtain by purchasing my insurance policy through FEMPPA?
a) The annual premium for each aircraft will be 2,700 pesos (excluding VAT), at least 500 pesos lower than comparable policies offered by other insurers.
b) Your policy will be processed before the DGAC as an endorsement to the master group policy contracted by FEMPPA through Forbes. The registration fee for an endorsement is slightly over 400 pesos (adjusted quarterly). The DGAC charges more than twice that amount to register a new policy, resulting in an overall savings of approximately 1,000 pesos.
c) Because this is a group policy, we can demand better service from the insurance company. If you experience an incident or accident, we can help ensure that claims are handled fairly and promptly.
d) If you wish to insure the hull of your aircraft or obtain other specialized coverage, we have negotiated with Forbes to provide the best pricing available in the market.
e) Our insurance representative will submit your policy to the Mexican Aeronautical Registry. The DGAC has committed to returning the stamped original document within seven business days so that it can be forwarded to you immediately by certified mail. One advantage of receiving the stamped policy is that you will not need to carry additional proof that it has been registered and paid. At present, the DGAC mails original documents directly and the process often experiences delays of several months.
f) If you forget to carry your insurance policy on board and an airport command office requests it, you may contact our insurance representative at any time, 365 days a year, and an immediate faxed copy will be sent to you.
When can I purchase my policy through FEMPPA? My current policy is still valid.
FEMPPA purchased and registered a master civil liability insurance policy with Forbes on October 18, 2000, valid through October 17, 2001.
You may purchase a new liability policy through Forbes at any time. Coverage will run from the date it becomes effective through October 17, 2001, and the premium will be prorated accordingly.
Beginning October 18, 2001, you may renew for a full year through Forbes or through whichever broker wins the following year's bidding process. Over time, all policies issued through FEMPPA will share the same renewal date.
What do I need to obtain my policy through FEMPPA?
FEMPPA requires three things:
First: You must be an active member of the Federation at the time you purchase your policy.
Second: You must contact the Forbes representative.
Third: If purchasing only liability coverage, the premium must be paid in full before the policy is submitted to the DGAC for registration.
This requirement exists because FEMPPA committed to guaranteeing to the DGAC that every registered policy would be fully paid. Some people had previously obtained policies, registered them with the DGAC, and never paid the premiums, resulting in automatic cancellation after thirty days.
How do I contact the FEMPPA insurance representative?
The representative directly responsible for serving FEMPPA members is Engineer Eduardo Núñez, assisted by Sylvana Vargas and Blaine Sánchez.
Address: Vasco de Quiroga 2121, Corporativo Pirámide, Santa Fe, 01210 Mexico City.
Telephone: 54 42 32 97
Fax: 54 42 84 99
Website: www.aforbes.com.mx
MORE GOOD NEWS
On October 11, we participated in a meeting at the Senate of the Republic.
The objective was to present the problems faced by Mexican and foreign private aviation operators when dealing with aeronautical authorities and airport procedures throughout the Mexican airport system.
Representatives from airport groups, ASA, DGAC, SENEAM, the Ministry of Tourism, SCT, PGR, SEDENA, Customs, Immigration, the Baja Bush Pilots Association, and several Senators attended.
It was agreed that each agency would work toward creating administrative processes that simplify and expedite airport operations and procedures for pilots.
One immediate achievement is that foreign private aircraft visiting Mexico will no longer be required to travel throughout the country and depart with exactly the same occupants who entered the country. Aircraft may now change passengers or crew members during their trip. Previously, the pilot was held responsible for ensuring that everyone entering Mexico together also completed all domestic flights together and departed the country together.
ONE NOT-SO-GOOD PIECE OF NEWS
Beginning on September 21, the SCT started publishing in the Official Gazette of the Federation a series of 62 proposed Official Mexican Standards (NOMs) affecting civil aviation in Mexico.
Approximately 28 of these proposed standards affect private aviation, generally not in a favorable manner.
Additional information on this matter is available on our website at:
(Translated by ChatGPT in June 2026)