In an effort to enhance ground operations safety, United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) has teamed with The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. to sponsor its dealers' participation in the NATA Safety 1st Program.

"It is the responsibility of everyone involved in the general aviation industry – from aircraft manufacturers and dealers to owners and insurance companies – to give safety top priority," says New Piper President and CEO Chuck Suma. "In order to increase our efforts for safe aircraft operation we have joined forces with USAIG to make the NATA Safety 1st Program available to each of our New Piper dealers."

"This is an industry Win-Win", says USAIG Senior Vice President David McKay. "Most importantly this training will reduce the exposure of someone getting hurt on the ramp, but will also build on customer satisfaction by helping prevent airplanes from being damaged. Hangar and ramp accidents translate directly to unscheduled downtime, increased costs and unhappy customers. Ground handling accidents have grown faster than any other category of claims. In our experience, training will make the difference."

The NATA Safety 1st Program has been designed to include the most up-to-date training techniques as well as new aircraft and ground servicing procedures. It consists of a series of nine videotapes, training manuals, and practical and written tests which are reviewed and graded by the NATA.

USAIG has agreed to sponsor every Piper dealer line service employee's participation in both initial and recurrent Safety 1st training, whether the dealer is a USAIG insured or not.

"Many Piper dealers have taken the initiative to participate in this important safety training on their own," says Harold Clark, USAIG's Chairman and CEO. "We are delighted to help support their commitment to safety and recognize them for doing the right thing."

Piper has been working hard to get better insurance information to owners. At the NBAA convention last week, New Piper's President, Chuck Suma, told us about a hot line installed at Piper, which is answered by a licensed broker. A call there can help you get your paperwork in order, to get the best deals on insurance. There are a lot of things that many agents don't ask; but, if you tell them, your information may help get you a lower rate. Knowing what those questions are, and the effect your personal answers to them are, may mean the difference between the best rate, and the one you're currently getting...

FMI: www.newpiper.com, www.usaig.com