Thanks for checking the Aggressive Aviation newsroom. Here you will find news releases, articles, and producer bulletins which we hope you will find interesting.

Please visit here from time to time to learn what new and useful information we  provide.

Irving TX, August 2, 2010 - Aggressive Aviation is pleased to announce that it continues to strengthen its support for those pilots who utilize some of the advanced safety technologies available.  In addition to the credits offered for those aircraft equipped with whole-plane parachute systems and passenger airbag systems, Aggressive is acknowledging the benefits of on-board thermal imaging systems (Enhanced Vision Systems) that are DO-160E approved.

Effective immediately, Aggressive will provide a credit up to 5% applicable to both liability and hull coverage premiums for the use of a DO-160E approved EVS system.  A maximum credit of 15% will be applied when all safety features (EVS system, aircraft parachute and airbag systems) apply to an aircraft.

Safety credits can be applied once evidence of installation is provided to Aggressive or its many highly-qualified independent producers.

Recent advances in on-board thermal imaging systems are indicating that this equipment helps pilots identify night hazards such as bird strikes and those daytime visibility challenges such as glare obscuring nearby planes and other objects.  

Products such as the Forward Vision EVS-600 typify the benefits of this type of equipment.  With these EVS cameras appropriately mounted, the pilot’s ability to maintain situational awareness is extended and strengthened. 

Once again, Aggressive is proud to be a leader in responding to advancing safety technology and will continue to recognize those consumers who respond to such devices as AmSafe’s airbag systems and BRS’s Ballistic Recovery System parachutes. 

Now available in nearly 40 states, Aggressive is continuing to expand its product offerings and its producer network.  Its advanced policy issuance and billing systems are proving valuable to professional agents across the country and realizing their value in freeing up the clerical time and processing costs of producers while allowing them more time to devote to their policyholders.

For more information about safety credits or Aggressive’s other aviation program features, please call Brian Bozick, Marketing Specialist at 972-827-3648 (Brian.Bozick@AggressiveAviation.com) or Chris Smith, Product Manager at 972-827-3689 (Chris.Smith@AggressiveAviation.com)

June 10, 2010

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of 'A' (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "a" of New York Marine Group. The ratings also apply to the two members of the group, New York Marine and General Insurance Company and Gotham Insurance Company.

Best also affirmed the FSR of 'A-' (Excellent) and ICR of "a-" of Southwest Marine and General Insurance Company, located in Phoenix, which was formed in 2006 to write excess and surplus lines and surety business for the group. At the same time Best affirmed the ICR of "bbb" and the debt rating of "bbb" of the $100 million, 6.5 percent, senior unsecured bonds due March 2014 issued by the parent company, NYMAGIC, Inc. The outlook for all ratings is stable.

The ratings reflect NY Marine's "solid capitalization, derived from historically conservative underwriting leverage, history of strong operating earnings, management's efforts to decrease its catastrophe exposures, proven ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and a strong market niche in its core marine business line," Best explained. "Although in recent years, the group's other liability writings have surpassed that of its marine book."

As offsetting factors, best cited NY Marine's "dependence on reinsurance, the decreased (although somewhat improved) financial flexibility at NY MAGIC following its $32.5 million capital contribution to NY Marine in 2008 and the company's limited capital growth over the years. This contribution followed significant losses in that year due to both realized and unrealized capital losses.

"As results improved in 2009 on profitable underwriting results and realized capital gains, the group paid a dividend to its parent holding company, which served to somewhat improve NY MAGIC's stand-alone liquidity."

Best also noted that the group's "limited surplus growth has been hindered by dividend payments that have represented a significant portion of earnings for NY Marine. Furthermore, the group has a large portfolio of Alt-A mortgage-backed securities representing approximately 32 percent of year-end 2009 surplus. These securities have lost significant market value due to the turmoil within the housing and credit markets."

Nonetheless, Best continued, NY Marine "holds a super senior position within these securities, significantly lowering the risk of default. As such, the majority of the risk presented by these securities is their illiquidity, although NY Marine plans on holding these securities to maturity. In addition, and although the group does have exposure to the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Coast oil spill, the majority of its loss is ceded to third party reinsurers and is not expected to materially impact 2010 results at this time."

Source: A.M. Best

June 4, 2010 - Irving Texas  Aggressive Insurance is very happy to announce the implementation of Colorado and Montana on its policy systems effective immediately.  Along with its recent implementation of California, Aggressive now has covered a swath of 36 states from coast to coast of the United States.  Aggressive is well ahead of its plan to launch at least 40 states by the end of 2010 and is gaining attention from quality aviation agents throughout the nation.
 
With these strong additions, Aggressive is now able to write in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming. 
 

 
Contact:
Brian Bozick, Marketing Specialist
(972) 827-3648
Brian.Bozick@AggressiveAviation.com
Or
Chris Smith, Product Manager
(972) 827-3689
Chris.Smith@AggressiveAviation.com

June 1, 2010, Irving, TX – Aggressive Insurance is pleased to announce that it has received approval for its aviation program in the state of California.  With over 10% of the planes registered in the U.S., this represents a significant expansion of Aggressive’s marketing area. 

With the addition of California, Aggressive is now able to write aircraft in 34 States.  Please refer to our Products page for a current list of states.

Aggressive continues to seek new producers for its small-craft program which is supported by the most advanced policy and billing services in the aviation business.  Additional states are filed with regulatory authorities and will be implemented in the near future.

Contact:

Brian Bozick, Marketing Specialist

(972) 827-3648

Brian.Bozick@AggressiveAviation.com

Or

Chris Smith, Product Manager

(972) 827-3689

Chris.Smith@AggressiveAviation.com

March 25, 2010 – After its initial successful October 2009 launch of a new aircraft program and expansion into thirty states to date, Aggressive today introduced enhancements to its unique on-line quote, bind and issue agency system.  Already the most advanced in the aviation insurance industry, the system now offers a more stream-lined “accordion” layout which helps the user organize the entry of quotes and policy changes.  On line prompts and fields are clearer and designed to reduce entry error.  Also the degree of automatically filled information is increased.  And the number of required inputs is reduced.

In the immediate future, Aggressive is planning expansion into additional states as regulatory approvals are obtained and, with reliance on the advice of its many agency partners, will continue to build and improve its unparalleled technology so that producers may increase their service efficiency and the profitability of their light aviation business.

 If you have any questions or concerns please contact us.

Irving, TX – January 5, 2010 – Aggressive’s founder and CEO, Richard Asprey is featured in a podcast interview by Chad Hemenway, editor for leading financial services rating organization, A.M. Best and Company. 

 The interview, which centers on Aggressive’s entry into the aviation insurance market,  may be heard on the A.M. Best “BestDayAudio” website at http://feeds.feedburner.com/BestdayAudio.

Simultaneously, an article summarizing the interview is published to  A.M. Best subscribers on the firm’s website at www.AMBEST.com

To read the text of this article please click on the link below.

• A.M. Best Article 1-10-2010

Irving, Texas—November 1, 2009—Aggressive Insurance today announced it will offer a premium discount to the owners and pilots of general aviation aircraft with seatbelt airbags on board. A new participant in the aviation insurance business, Aggressive wants to attract pilots and plane owners who show concern for both flying safety and airplane maintenance by adopting new safety techniques and equipment. Aggressive offers a five percent credit to the total premium of each aircraft equipped wit seatbelt airbags installed according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.

“While there is not a great deal of actuarial experience available to support the credit, it simply makes good sense to encourage airplane owners who think this way,” said Aggressive’s president, Richard Asprey.  “We don’t guarantee or warrant the performance of the equipment itself but, as with automobiles, we feel that owners who take extra measures deserve recognition.”

Just launched in September 2009, Aggressive Aviation couples creative thinking with its hi-tech insurance delivery system and is a firm supporter of the independent insurance agents of America through which it offers its products. Already in eight states, Aggressive intends to serve customers nationwide within its first year of operation. 

”AmSafe commends Aggressive Insurance for its industry-leading position recognizing the important safety benefits the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag brings to general aviation pilots and passengers,” said Bill Hagan, president of AmSafe Aviation, the country’s largest manufacture of seatbelt airbags. “Demand for the AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag continues to grow. Today, AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags are now standard equipment on 80 percent of all new single engine general aviation aircraft and is available as an aftermarket option for many more models.”

A seatbelt airbag is a self-contained, modular restraint designed to improve occupant protection from serious head-impact injury and to enhance one’s ability to exit the aircraft following an otherwise survivable accident. When the Airbag’s sensors detect a crash, an airbag built into the restraint deploys up and away from the seat occupant – unlike automobile airbags which deploy toward the occupant.  The FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency rigorously test the devices which add less than three pounds to existing restraint systems and issues specifications for installation. 

October 5, 2009 - Aggressive Insurance is pleased to welcome Brian Bozick as Marketing Specialist in its Aviation Division.  Brian brings over 12 years experience in insurance agency management experience having recently sold four multi-lines agencies in the San Antonio, TX area.  Brian has recruited and trained agency personnel, managed operations and improved agency effectiveness through the adoption of new technological tools and processing practices.  Brian has also had six years experience with the U.S. Naval Air Services as Electronics Technician working with flight simulators and as Logistics and Supply Manager working with hazardous substances.  He also has served for seven year in the Texas Air National Guard as a Security Forces Officer.  Brian resides in McKinney, TX with his wife, AnMarie, a communications director with a noted rating software firm.  AnMarie is also former President of the Alliance of Insurance Agents of Texas (AIAT).  They have four grown children, three in college and one serving in the U.S. Air Force and they are expecting their first grandchild. 

We are sure that Brian will become a tremendous source of assistance to us and to our producers as we develop our new aviation business.

On September 15, 2009, Aggressive Insurance launched new  aviation insurance program. By offering a combination of sound coverage, competitive pricing and exceptional technological support, the program is destined to become a major factor in this market.  Click below to read the entire release.

• Aggressive Launches Aviation Program - 9/15/09