- Your aircraft hull policy protects the airplane inside the hangar, not the hangar building. The building needs its own property cover.
- Tools, equipment and spare parts in the hangar may not be covered by your aircraft policy unless they're insured separately.
- Hangarkeepers liability is for anyone who stores, maintains or services other people's aircraft: it covers aircraft in your care, custody or control.
- Airport hangar leases commonly require liability minimums, proof of hull cover, and an additional-insured endorsement naming the airport authority.
Hangaring an airplane usually lowers its insurance premium compared with an outdoor tie-down, especially in hail country, as Brian's first Cessna 182 scenario shows. But owning or leasing a hangar creates exposures your aircraft policy doesn't cover. This spoke of our aircraft & aviation insurance explained hub sorts out which policy covers what.
Four Hangar Exposures, Four Different Coverages
| Exposure | Covered By | Not Covered By |
|---|---|---|
| Your aircraft damaged by hangar fire or roof collapse | Aircraft hull (not-in-motion). See hull insurance cover | Building property policy |
| The hangar structure, doors and electrical systems | Hangar building / commercial property policy | Aircraft hull policy |
| Tools, tugs, spare parts and avionics on shelves | Contents cover or an equipment floater | Usually not your aircraft policy |
| A visitor trips over a tow bar | Premises liability / general liability | Often not aircraft liability |
| Damage to someone else's aircraft you store or work on | Hangarkeepers liability | Your own aircraft policy |
When You Need Hangarkeepers Liability
Hangarkeepers liability applies when you store aircraft belonging to others, perform maintenance on third-party aircraft, or run an aviation service business. Examples include renting a corner of your hangar to another owner, running an A&P shop, or operating an FBO. It covers aircraft in your care, custody or control, a gap that standard liability policies typically exclude. Airfield operators should also review airport liability insurance, and businesses with a product or parts exposure should see aviation products liability insurance.
If two co-owners or club members share a hangar, decide in writing whose policy responds if one member's tug damages another member's airplane. Read aircraft partnership insurance, and remember that many aircraft policies limit claims between people insured under the same policy.
What Airport Hangar Leases Typically Require
- Minimum liability limits, often $1M, sometimes on a smooth basis (see smooth vs per-seat liability).
- Proof of aircraft hull insurance.
- An endorsement naming the airport authority as an additional insured.
- Indemnification clauses. Have your broker confirm that your policy's contractual liability cover matches what you sign.
- Annual certificates of insurance. Missing one can cost you your hangar.
Building a homebuilt in the hangar? Builder's risk and contents cover interact, as explained in experimental aircraft insurance. Storing drones and cameras? See drone insurance. After any hangar loss, follow aircraft insurance claims: what to expect. The hangar-vs-tie-down premium difference is part of airplane insurance cost.
Check property, contents, premises liability and hangarkeepers cover if your hangar is part of an aviation business.
Calculate your total protection requirement across life, health, and personal liability.