Press Release – November 2025
Ag Pilot Simulator Training Included in USAIG’s Performance Vector Annual Benefits Program
New York, NY (November 10, 2025)…USAIG, one of the world’s leading aviation-specific insurance providers, includes simulator-based training for fixed-wing agricultural aerial applicator pilots with Kansas-based Turbine Training Center (TTC) among the options in its Performance Vector program. Performance Vector benefits are available to most USAIG policyholders that insure a turbine-powered aircraft or place multiple policies with USAIG.* Each eligible policy can select and receive one program option annually to enhance organizational loss control and safety efforts.
“Aerial applicators are vital to modern agriculture and represent an important business segment for USAIG,” says Ken Nielsen, Underwriting V.P. and Agricultural Aviation Business Line Manager. Aerial application is dynamic, with operations close to the ground in high performance turboprop aircraft demanding high proficiency from pilots. Additional risk factors include long hours in austere and changing locations coupled with surges in work tempo triggered by the growing cycles of various crops. Nielsen continued, “aerial applicators have unique needs and many options in our safety program that are geared more toward corporate jet operations just aren’t as relevant to their specialized operations. So, in Spring 2025 we integrated TTC’s Air Tractor simulator courses for ag pilots into the program to ensure our ag policies have an option focused on them.” TTC has training programs for both experienced pilots and lower-time turbine transitioning pilots.
When a policyholder selects TTC for its annual safety benefit, USAIG issues a ‘Safety Bucks’ certificate to TTC confirming it will pay up to $2500 of fixed-wing ag pilot training fees incurred by the policyholder within 12 months of the certificate’s issuance. This gives operators flexibility to schedule training around their operations. One certificate per year can be issued for an eligible operator, but it must be requested and issued within each policy term, and in all cases prior to training taking place. Eligibility refreshes with each annual policy renewal but unclaimed benefits do not accrue or carry over into subsequent policy years. TTC President Jason Wolcott said,” it’s been great having the first half-dozen-or-so trainees come through our ag simulator course using USAIG’s Performance Vector subsidy. Having most of a pilot’s tuition funded by their insurer is a meaningful incentive that’s enabling more operators to experience the high quality and impact of our training.”
To make a Performance Vector selection, a policyholder representative simply needs to communicate the request to their aviation insurance broker or underwriter. USAIG continually upgrades its safety programs to keep pace with changes and improvements in aviation safety protocols. For additional information about the program, please visit the “Safety” tab at www.usaig.com or email [email protected].
*Check with your broker, underwriter, or policy documents to confirm eligibility.
About USAIG
United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) provides a full spectrum of coverage options for owners, operators, manufacturers and maintainers of corporate, private and commercial aircraft. In 1928, our founders –World War I pilots and businessmen David Beebe and Reed Chambers – saw the need for an insurance company that truly understood aviation. We remain a world aviation insurance leader delivering innovative, custom-tailored insurance products and services, including Performance Vector safety programs and Performance Vector PLUS good experience returns. United States Aviation Underwriters, Inc. manages USAIG, maintaining the industry’s largest network of underwriting and field claims offices. USAU’s wholly owned subsidiary, Toronto-based Canadian Aviation Insurance Managers manages the Canadian Aircraft Insurance Group insurance pool. USAIG is a subsidiary of General Re Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn & Instagram.
About TTC
Turbine Training Center (TTC) is a unique training facility for pilots and operators of the Air Tractor 402/502/602/802/802A models, Beechcraft King Air 90/100/200 and 300 series aircraft, Robinson R-66 and Bell 206 rotorcraft/helicopters. Turbine transition training for ag pilots, as well as initial and recurrent courses are taught by professional instructors who are high-time pilots in their respective types. Training begins in the classroom but then moves to aircraft-specific simulators for the reality-based flight training for which TTC is known. Located in Manhattan, KS, TTC is approximately 120 miles west of Kansas City.
