Tripoli Insurance

 

Tripoli Launch Insurance provides liability coverage for rocketry related activities by members of the Tripoli Rocketry Association if those activities are fully compliant with the Tripoli Unified Safety Code. Activities which deviate from the Tripoli Unified Safety Code are not insured.

The information provided below outlines some of the provisions of the insurance coverage provided as part of the membership dues paid by the members of the Tripoli Rocketry Association and is for reference only this is not a legal representation in any sense. The insurance carrier can only make final coverage determination.

The Tripoli Rocketry Association carries General Liability Insurance covering launch events, meetings, classes, seminars and other Tripoli Sanctioned Events. This policy covers events hosted by a Tripoli Prefecture and the rocketry activities of a member. The policy runs for each calendar year, (Jan 1 through Dec 31).

The policy covers injury and property damage to spectators, innocent bystanders, and Tripoli Members. Medical payments are also a feature of the policy. There is no coverage for a Tripoli Member whose rocketry activities have caused bodily injury or property damage to themselves. 

Following the Tripoli Unified Safety Code

All flyers at a Tripoli Launch must obey the most current version of the Tripoli Unified Safety Code for insurance coverage. Violations to the Tripoli Rocketry Association's Safety Code can result in denial of insurance coverage for an incident.

Meeting FAA Requirements

Violations to the FAA regulations can cost a Prefecture its launch site and its FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA) and can potentially result in denial of insurance coverage for an incident.

Coverage Limits and Deductibles

Descriptions of Coverage Types:

• Premises Liability: Coverage for the landowner against injury claims submitted by people who are injured while on their property. This is the coverage that most launch site landowners need.
• Products and Completed Operations: Financial protection against lawsuits that arise because of a faulty product or poor construction. For example, a launch pad fails and drops a rail onto a person.This might cover the club that owns the launch pad.
• Personal Injury & Advertising: Financial protection against claims that your business caused 
  harm to reputation through slander, libel, or copyright infringement. Also covers legal fees. I am
  unsure how this benefits us.
• Fire Damage: Coverage for a tenant’s liability for damage by fire for rented buildings. This typically would not apply to a launch site, but might help cover costs if launch equipment burst into flames while stored in a landowner’s barn.
• Medical Payments: Coverage for injuries to another that result in medical bills. This protects the average rocketeer from financial liability if that rocketeer’s rocket injures another person, but not himself or herself.
• Property Damage: Coverage for damage to another’s property. This protects the average 
  rocketeer from financial liability (beyond the initial $2500 deductible) for damage caused if that 
  rocketeer’s rocket damages another person’s property, but not his or her own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the coverage limits and deductibles of the insurance?

Premises Liability Each Occurrence - No Aggregate	$3,000,000
Products & Completed Operations Each Occurrence and Aggregate	$3,000,000
Personal Injury & Advertising Each Occurrence and Aggregate	$3,000,000
Fire Damage - Any One Fire	$1,000,000
Medical Payments - Each Person	$25,000
Medical Payments - Each Occurrence	$25,000
Property Damage - Per Claim Member Responsibility	$2,500

What activities does TRA insurance cover?

TRA insurance is general liability and property damage coverage included as part of your membership benefits. Member insurance helps protect members from liabilities arising out of TRA rocketry activities held at approved launch locations. This includes model rockets, high power rockets powered by certified motors, and research high power rockets, in the event the member’s rocket causes damage or injury to another person or property owned by someone else. Location coverage is limited to premises necessary and incidental to the insured’s operations within a 10-mile radius of the launch pad or the limits of the FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA aka “waiver”), whichever is less.

Who is covered by TRA insurance?

Tripoli members, its Prefectures, landowners, other named insured’s requested by TRA and approved by our insurance provider, and all supervised minors under 18 years old flying model rockets. The coverage is worldwide. NOTE, TRA associate members (non insurance members) have no coverage and must upgrade their membership to fly at TRA Insured launch.

What is a Sanctioned Launch?

Also called an Insured Launch. Any flight of a rocket that meets ALL of the following constraints:

• Responsible person of launch shall be member of Tripoli in good standing.
• The construction, preparation, and flight of the rocket follows the Tripoli Unified Safety Code
• Legal: All AHJ (e.g. FAA waiver) requirements/regulations have been met and any required 
  permits have been obtained.
  
• Landowner permission and constraints have been followed

What about my children? if they have an accident flying model rockets at a Tripoli Sanctioned launch, are they covered?

If a suit is brought against Tripoli as a result of a minor, who while under direct supervision of TRA in their rocket activities, that causes Bodily Injury or Physical Damage, there is coverage.

Here is the exact response received from the underwriter:

“At a Tripoli sanctioned event where a minor causes Bodily Injury or Physical Damage and Tripoli is sued as a result of their negligence or in the event of an accident, there is coverage.”

What about youths under 18 who are not members of any organization nor have legal guardians present not belong to any organization, will they be allowed to fly at a Tripoli event?

All supervised minors flying model rockets under direct supervision of an Adult Flyer are covered. For example, if any youth is the cause of an accident in his/her model rocket activities the Youth, Tripoli, its members and Prefectures, landowners, and other named insured’s are protected from third party liability.

• Adult Flier: An insured TRA member or an insured member, who is 18 years old or older, of 
  an approved, insured rocketry organization.
• Approved insured Rocketry Organization: Any rocketry organization that TRA has insurance reciprocity with. At this writing this includes NAR only.

From time-to-time, TRA in accordance with our bylaws and as a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation, 
assists certain organizations and academia in the educational aspect of rocketry. For instance, we 
allow minors to fly model rockets at our launches under supervision of an Adult Flyer or an adult designated as Range Personnel by the Launch Director. These activities must comply with the Tripoli Unified Safety Code as well as CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) requirements regarding children's use of consumer Model Rocket Motors.

We have in the past asked for, and been granted, adding "Named Insureds" to our Policy. These Named Insureds now include volunteers helping with range duties and minors flying model rockets.

Who is liable if an uninsured flier causes and incident?

The launch organizers may be held liable if they chose to allow uninsured Adult fliers to participate.  This includes both model rocket and high power fliers.

What if our Prefecture has adult non-members attending our launch? Are their actions 
covered by TRA insurance if they fly with us?

No. Adult Non-members are not covered by TRA insurance. To be covered by Tripoli insurance, 
they must join TRA, regardless of impulse flown. 

NAR, CAR, and UKRA members may fly at TRA launches, but only if they are covered by their 
respective organizations' insurance. Tripoli insurance does not cover members of other 
organizations who are not Tripoli members.

Important Note
According to the Tripoli Unified Safety Code, uninsured adults may not fly at Tripoli 
launches, not even model rockets.

When am I or my children covered?

TRA members are covered at any launch that meet the definition of Sanctioned Launch. TRA members flying at those launches are covered by TRA Insurance. You must check with the individual non TRA organization to see if they accept Tripoli insurance at their launch.

Is TRA insurance secondary or primary coverage?

TRA insurance is primary coverage, meaning it applies for all your rocketry activity covered under the Tripoli Unified Safety Code.

What is the difference between primary and secondary insurance?

Primary insurance is property or liability coverage that provides benefits (usually after a deductible 
has been paid by an insured) up to the limits of a policy, regardless of other insurance policies in 
effect. Tripoli insurance is primary. Secondary insurance is property or liability coverage that pays 
claims covered by the policy after primary insurance limits have been exhausted.

What if my Prefecture has a large event and enlists the aide of non TRA member volunteers, are they covered?

Yes. Volunteers under TRA member direction are "additional named insureds" in the policy.

Does Tripoli insurance cover damage to another person’s property caused by a Tripoli member's rocket? Is the member/Prefecture covered if a rocket hits a house and causes damage?

Yes, property damage to another person’s property is covered. Property damage to "third parties" 
is covered. For this kind of coverage, the flyer of record is responsible for the first $2,500.

If a family member or I are injured at a TRA sponsored activity and the injury is due to another member’s actions, does TRA insurance cover our medical expenses, and if so, is there a deductible?

Yes, medical expenses for an injury caused by the actions of a member to another person, whether that second person is a Tripoli member or not, are covered. There is no deductible for medical payments. The TRA policy has a medical payments provision for accidents during TRA approved operations. Although there is no deductible, the limit per occurrence for this coverage is $25,000.

What happens if a member's rocket damages someone's car?

That Member is covered, the same as property damage in the previous question. Please note that 
the Flyer of Record will be responsible for the first $2500. It may be more economical to use 
the car owner's auto insurance to cover this.

If a flyer's rocket damages their own car or a car that they have rented, is that covered?

No, damage to the Flyer of Record’s own property (which would include a rental car) is not covered 
by Tripoli insurance.

How do I convince a Landowner that our rocket activities are covered by real insurance backed by a reputable provider, so that he will let me launch on his land? What benefits can I show him?

TRA HQ can get you and your landowner an Insurance Certificate listing your landowner as “also 
covered.” If your landowner has additional questions or concerns, the Chair of the Insurance 
Committee can directly answer those questions or concerns.

Why do we need to list launch sites in order for them to be covered by the insurance?

Tripoli requires this to properly assess the risk associated with insurance coverage. Risk 
assessment Tripoli performs is recognized by our insurance providers and helps control the cost of 
our premiums. Controlling the cost of premiums helps us control the cost of membership dues. 
Landowner Permission Form

When should a TRA insurance claim be filed?

File the claim as soon as possible after the incident. The more recent the accident, the more complete the details will be.

If a claim must be filed, how do I file it?

Contact TRA HQ immediately after any accident for which you believe you might have to file a claim. They will have complete information available for you to file a claim. You can also file a preliminary report of your claim by using the Insurance Incident Report Form. 

Can I contact someone if I have questions about insurance?

Yes. Contact hq@tripoli.org and they can direct a representative to answer your questions