Tips, Question, and Answers

Q. I want to fly to Canada. Is there anything special I need to do?

A. Most underwriters provide territory coverage for Canada. Be sure read your policy definitions on territory or contact your aviation insurance agent to confirm that your policy territory includes Canada. You should also review a few procedures before you go. We have collected a number of links and advice from customers and the Canadian Governments website for United States Pilots to review. Click here for more information.

Q. I have a number of headsets and portable equipment that I leave in my aircraft. If something happens to them, will the insurance company replace them?

A. Maybe, maybe not. Most insurance polices have a limited dollar amount that they will cover for handheld or portable items that you leave or store in your aircraft. One company is a maximum of $500. It is recommended that you check your policy and see if additional coverage is available and if not, talk to you your local homeowner agent and ask if they can get you a special policy, (often called a “Personal Articles Policy”), that should provide coverage for your personal items. Make sure they will cover items stored in your aircraft or at the airport.

Q. The aircraft I am buying appears to have had mice living in. Is there anything I can do to remove the lingering odor?

A. Well, besides completely stripping everything out of the aircraft. You might try some targeted cleaning with pet odor remover. But the odor needs to be removed from the absorbent materials that are retaining them, which is very difficult. Probably the only real way to get the smell permanently out is get rid of the stuff that smells. Typically the mice live in the wings, belly and tail cone of the aircraft. Although they have also been known to build their “condos” in the headliner, seat padding or soundproofing material. I bought an aircraft that had been parked for years and the mice had completely packed the air intake system with nesting material. The aluminum intake housing was destroyed and needed to be completely replaced. The interior was in the same smelly trouble. That aircraft ended up being completely stripped. The headlines, seats and padding and soundproofing material in the belly and sidewalls was removed. The last I heard, it still was not done!

Of course, another important step is to keep the mice out of the aircraft to begin with. Years ago I worked at a camper rental company and they used "moth balls" sprinkled in the campers to keep out mice. It worked for them. If you live in a mice prone neighborhood (what isn’t?) There are always those protective devices that go around the landing gear. These are usually metal shields are like “fences” to keep mice from climbing their way into the aircraft. In addition, traps can help keep mice family from moving in. I can remember a Turbo 310 that had a couple of mice roaming the airframe that a few well-placed traps took care of.

However, to get rid of the smell, some people have had some luck leaving an "ionizer" air cleaning system in the aircraft when while parked. Or you can always do what one FBO I know does; just sprinkle more “High Karate” men’s cologne in the cockpit before each flight. The mice smell will be un-noticed and every time you get out, you are ready for a night on the town.

Aviation - Non-owned - Marine - Pilot Life - Collector Car - Products - Applications - Links - About us - Sky Talk – Tips and Questions

Click on the logo to return home