Workers Compensation Insurance
Workers comp is required from your first employee and provides medical and wage benefits to injured staff. For paragliding schools, instructors and ground crew face real injury exposure during ground handling, launches, and retrieves.
Workers Comp for Paragliding Schools
If you employ instructors, tandem pilots, or ground crew, nearly every state requires workers' compensation. Your staff fly, run launches, handle wings in strong wind, drive retrieves, and work on uneven mountain terrain — injuries happen, and an injured instructor without WC becomes a direct claim against the business.
What It Covers
- Medical expenses for staff injured on the job
- Lost wages while an injured instructor recovers
- Disability benefits for lasting injuries
- Employer liability if an injured employee sues
Classification & Payroll
Adventure-sport and flight-instruction payroll is underwritten carefully. Proper classification matters — misclassifying flying instructors as office staff invites a costly mid-term audit adjustment. We make sure your class codes match what your team actually does.
Independent Contractors
Many schools use 1099 tandem pilots. In most states, contractors who don't carry their own coverage can be treated as employees for WC purposes. Always verify each pilot's certificate, or budget them into your payroll.
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
Often yes. Most states treat contractors without their own coverage as employees for WC purposes, and an uncovered injury becomes your liability. Verify each pilot's certificate or include them in your payroll.
In most states sole proprietors and corporate officers can elect to exclude themselves, which lowers premium but leaves you without WC protection for your own injuries. We'll walk you through your state's rules.