Classic British Flight Sim

EU insurance rules ground Sally B
The UK's last airworthy World War II Flying Fortress, the Sally B, has been grounded because EU rules mean insurance is too expensive.
The B-17, based at Duxford, Cambs, had been due to mark VE Day with a flypast in Southampton, Hants, on Sunday.

But insurance rule changes put the vintage bomber in the same insurance category as a commercial Boeing 737.

Elly Sallingboe, of the B-17 Preservation Society, said the extra cost had proved too much.

The new EU rules on third party liability insurance came into force on 1 May, based on maximum take-off weight.

It is particularly upsetting when you think that Sally B flies as a memorial to over 70,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives
Elly Sallingboe, B-17 Preservation Society

Most fall into a lower band, but the B-17 is a very heavy aircraft.

The Sally B would have to have £65m cover - up from the £25m she carries at the moment - costing the society an extra £25,000 a year.

"That's an astonishing £1,000 per flying hour," said Ms Sallingboe, who also operates the bomber and is campaigning for exemption from the rule for historic vintage aircraft.

"We are extremely sorry not to be appearing at Southampton but at this stage we have no other options.

"It is particularly upsetting when you think that Sally B flies as a memorial to over 70,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in the skies over Europe.

New rules agreed

"The aircraft is ready to fly, and we will do everything humanly possible to find a solution."

A European Commission spokesman said the new rules were the result of the fallout from the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001 which closed many airports.

Airlines seeking compensation from insurers had found they were not covered for their losses.

The European Commission had been asked by a number of states to ensure that the situation would not be repeated and the result was the new rules, which were agreed by EU ministers last year.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/e ... 517139.stm

Published: 2005/05/06 17:06:12 GMT

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