The Sport Air Racing League (SARL) requires all pilots participating in SARL-sanctioned races to carry aircraft insurance and to name SARL and its officers as additional insureds.
This requirement is essential to the continued operation of the league.
Why This Policy Exists
SARL is an all-volunteer organization. Our officers, directors, race organizers, and event volunteers give their time and expertise to make air racing possible. Without appropriate insurance protection, these individuals—and the league itself—could face significant personal legal and financial risk in the event of an accident or claim.
Even when everyone acts responsibly, aviation carries inherent risk. If an incident occurs during a SARL-sanctioned event, lawsuits may name not only the pilot involved, but also SARL, its leadership, race officials, and volunteers. Being named as additional insureds on a pilot’s policy is a critical safeguard against that risk.
Leadership and Volunteer Protection
SARL depends on people who are willing to serve in leadership roles. It is neither realistic nor responsible to ask volunteers to lead the organization if doing so could expose their personal finances, homes, and families to lawsuits.
Without reasonable legal protections in place, it becomes extremely difficult to recruit and retain qualified leaders and volunteers. Protecting those who serve SARL is necessary for the league’s survival.
Fairness and Consistency
This policy applies to all SARL-sanctioned races. Consistent enforcement is essential to fairness. Pilots who comply with the insurance requirement should not be placed at a disadvantage compared to those who do not.
A league cannot function effectively when its rules are optional or inconsistently applied.
Acknowledging the Impact
We recognize that this requirement has made participation more difficult for some pilots and has contributed to a reduction in league size. We regret that outcome. However, abandoning basic legal protections or selectively enforcing rules is not a sustainable path forward and would ultimately place the entire organization at risk.
Our Commitment
SARL leadership remains committed to:
– Applying this requirement consistently across all sanctioned events
– Exploring ways to share insurance resources and information
– Working with pilots and race hosts to find practical solutions where possible
What we cannot do is waive a requirement that exists to protect the people who make SARL possible.