If you run a flight school or instruct in Robinson R22 helicopters, insurance isn’t just a box to check, it’s a critical part of protecting your business, your instructors, your students, and your aircraft.
The R22 is a powerful tool in the hands of the right instructor. It’s compact, cost-efficient, and perfect for teaching the fundamentals of helicopter flight. But it also brings higher risk from an underwriter’s perspective, especially in training environments where low-time pilots are in control.
At BWI Aviation Insurance, we’ve helped flight schools and instructors across the country insure hundreds of R22s, and we’ve seen what works, and what leads to problems down the line.
In this post, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about Robinson R22 insurance for instructional and school use, including:
- What coverage is required
- Real insurance premiums based on school and CFI policies
- Mistakes to avoid
- How to keep your rates low without sacrificing protection
Let’s dive in.
Why the R22 Is the Most Common Training Helicopter
Since its introduction in 1979, the R22 has been the go-to helicopter for flight schools. Its affordability, low operating cost, and FAA-approved training structure make it the perfect entry-level rotorcraft.
Many of the largest helicopter schools in the U.S. operate fleets of R22s, and many CFIs spend hundreds of hours annually flying them with students.
But all of this flight activity creates more risk:
- High usage = higher claim frequency
- Low-time students = increased potential for errors
- Dual instruction requires correct policy language
That’s why R22 instructional use must be properly declared and structured within your insurance policy.
What Coverage Does a Flight School or Instructor Need?
Here’s what we typically recommend for R22 instructional operations:
1.
Hull (Physical Damage) Coverage
- Agreed-value protection (e.g., $125,000–$300,000)
- Covers the aircraft itself—essential in high-utilization operations
2.
Liability Coverage
- $1,000,000 per occurrence / $100,000 per passenger
- Smooth CSL available in some cases for experienced instructors
3.
Instructional Use Endorsement
- Required to cover CFIs giving dual
- If not included, your policy may not pay in the event of an accident during instruction
4.
Open Pilot Warranty (Optional)
- Helpful for schools with rotating instructors
- Sets minimums (e.g., 500 TT, 25 R22) instead of naming each pilot individually
5.
Additional Insured Certificates
- For owners, LLCs, leasing entities, or financing banks
6.
Deductible Reimbursement & Medical Payments
- Optional, but common in high-activity school environments
Real-World Insurance Premiums for R22 Instruction
These examples are based on actual BWI clients:
R22 Flight School | $250,000 Hull | 2+ instructors on file
Annual Premium: $9,800
CFI Operating Privately Owned R22 | $200,000 Hull | 800 hrs TT
Annual Premium: $6,920
Flight School with 2 R22s | $135,000 + $175,000 Hull | Shared policy
Annual Premium: $14,600
High-Time Instructor | $125,000 Hull | Smooth liability approved
Annual Premium: $7,100
Note: Pricing varies by hull value, student volume, instructor experience, and whether the aircraft is hangared.
What You’ll Need to Get a Quote
To quote your flight school or instructional policy, we’ll ask for:
- Aircraft N-numbers and declared hull values
- Storage info (hangar or tiedown)
- Number of instructors
- Pilot experience summaries (TT, R22 time)
- Use declaration (Part 61, 141, etc.)
- Entity ownership structure (LLC, personal, school)
- Student pilot rental or supervised use? (optional add-ons)
We’ll guide you through every step and return a quote in 24–48 hours in most cases.
What Happens If You Don’t Declare Instructional Use?
This is a critical, and common, mistake.
If your policy says “Pleasure and Business Use Only” and you’re giving dual instruction, your coverage may be denied in the event of a loss.
We’ve seen this happen, and it’s avoidable.
Every instructional flight must be declared. We’ll ensure the correct endorsements are in place.
Benefits of Properly Structured R22 School Insurance
- Full legal and financial protection for CFIs
- Clear liability structure for student pilots
- Lower deductibles and faster claim approvals
- Ability to rotate CFIs with Open Pilot Warranty
- Clean documentation for leasing, ownership, and aircraft transfers
- Greater long-term premium stability
Tips to Keep Your Premiums Low
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date instructor logs
- Hangar your aircraft (many underwriters offer discounts)
- Complete recurrent training or sim-based refreshers
- Track incidents, even minor ones, and report them early
- Consider higher deductibles to reduce annual premiums
Final Thoughts
Flight schools are built around trust, and so is aviation insurance.
Whether you’re insuring your first R22 for dual instruction or managing a fleet of training helicopters, your policy needs to reflect the realities of what you do day in and day out.
At BWI, we’ve insured thousands of helicopter operators, instructors, and schools, and we know what it takes to get your R22 covered right.
Call (800) 666-4359 or click below to request your flight school R22 quote today.
[ GET R22 FLIGHT SCHOOL INSURANCE ]
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