Harvey Watt & Co.

What Harvey Watt & Co. does

Harvey Watt & Co. (legal entity Harvey W. Watt & Company, Inc.) is a privately held, Atlanta-headquartered specialty insurance and AeroMedical services firm founded in 1951 by commercial airline pilot Harvey Watt, who pioneered the Loss of Medical License insurance category. The company designs, underwrites (or administers on behalf of carriers), and services insurance and disability products for professional pilots, with a covered base of approximately 78,000 pilots across 30+ airlines, regional carriers, fractional operators, charter operators, and pilot unions, plus structured channels through aviation associations such as AOPA, NBAA, and NATA.

The product portfolio centers on Loss of Medical License disability insurance (Short Term, Long Term, and Lump Sum formats), supplemented by portable Term Life and AD&D coverage up to $1.5 million, Critical Illness lump-sum policies, and FAA Medical Certification Advocacy led by two former U.S. Federal Air Surgeons (Dr. Mike Berry and Dr. Fred Tilton). Adjacent service lines include Claims Assistance, HIMS Substance Abuse coordination, Return-to-Work Verification, Fitness-for-Duty evaluations, five-tier Sick Leave Management, and STD/LTD third-party administration for major U.S. airlines and Fortune 500 insurers including Aetna, MetLife, Americo, and The Hartford. The proprietary Pilot Disability Management System (PDMS), developed with Progress Inc., tracks pilot-specific absence dimensions such as aircraft type, line flown, base, reserve/active status, and sick bank balance, and powers structured reporting back to airline benefit departments.

Commercial economics combine recurring monthly/annual insurance premiums (paid via payroll deduction, ACH, or billing), per-pilot TPA fees for claims administration, and ancillary newsletter subscription revenue from the Aviation Medical Bulletin (published since 1969, $19.95/year or $50/three-year). Distribution is overwhelmingly direct: salaried (non-commission) account representatives manage enterprise relationships with airline benefit departments and pilot unions, while individual pilots enroll online, by phone, or via scheduled policy consultations. The firm has held a 20+ year track record of no rate increases on pilot-specific disability coverage, a discipline enabled by the scale of its pooled pilot base and its specialized claims expertise.

Name

Harvey Watt & Co.

Legal name

Harvey W. Watt & Company, Inc.

Website

https://harveywatt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harvey Watt & Co. is a privately held, Atlanta-based specialty insurance and AeroMedical services firm that designs, administers, and advocates for Loss of Medical License disability, life, and critical illness coverage for approximately 78,000 professional pilots across U.S. airlines, unions, and aviation associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Insurance

NAICS

Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292), Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Specialty (FSAJAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Claims Administration & TPA Services (FNOL, Subrogation, Litigation Mgmt) (TLABANAH)

Keywords

• Pilot disability insurance
• Loss of medical license
• Faa medical certification
• Aviation insurance services
• Pilot claims administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pilot Disability Insurance Premiums: Monthly premiums collected from pilots and airline groups for Loss of Medical License disability coverage. Plans include Short Term, Long Term, and Extended Long Term disability options with various waiting periods and benefit levels. Premiums may be paid via payroll deduction, ACH bank draft, or billing statement.
2. Life and AD&D Insurance Premiums: Term life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage sold to pilots and spouses. Coverage up to $1.5 million for life insurance and $500,000 for AD&D, with premium revenue from ongoing policyholder base.
3. Critical Illness Insurance Premiums: Lump-sum critical illness coverage providing upfront payment upon diagnosis of covered conditions. Revenue generated from premium payments on these supplemental policies.
4. Third Party Administration (TPA) Fees: Fees charged to airlines and aviation organizations for claims administration, payroll deduction management, benefit calculation, and plan management services. Licensed TPA serving pilot disability claims for major U.S. air carriers.
5. FAA Medical Certification Advocacy Services: AeroMedical advisory and certification representation services provided to airlines, unions, and pilot organizations. May be bundled with insurance products or offered as standalone subscription.
6. Aviation Medical Bulletin Subscriptions: Monthly health newsletter published since 1969. Subscription revenue: 12 issues for $19.95 or 36 issues for $50. Some pilots receive free subscription through airline or organization programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Harvey Watt & Co. is the world's largest provider and manager of pilot disability (Loss of Medical License) insurance since 1951, offering Short Term, Long Term, and Lump Sum disability coverage, term life insurance up to $1.5 million, critical illness coverage, and FAA medical certification advocacy services. The company serves approximately 78,000 professional pilots through individual policies and group programs administered for major airlines, pilot unions, and aviation associations as a Third Party Administrator.

Product overview

Harvey Watt & Co. operates as an insurance and aeromedical services company offering a portfolio of specialized products for professional pilots. The core offering centers on Pilot Disability Insurance (Loss of Medical License), which protects pilots' income when grounded due to medical reasons. This is complemented by Life & Accidental Death Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance as supplemental coverage options. The company provides FAA Medical Certification Advocacy services led by former Federal Air Surgeons to help pilots maintain or regain their medical certificates. Additional services include Claims Assistance, the Aviation Medical Bulletin newsletter, HIMS Substance Abuse Recovery Program coordination, Return to Work Verification, and comprehensive STD/LTD Claim Management. For airline partners, the company offers a proprietary Pilot Disability Management System (PDMS) for claims tracking and Sick Leave Management programs. These products work together to serve pilots from prevention and education through disability management and recertification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pilot Disability Insurance (Loss of Medical License) Specialized disability coverage protecting pilots' income when they lose their FAA Medical Certificate due to medical conditions or medications, offering Short Term, Long Term, Extended Long Term, and Lump Sum disability protection options for professional pilots.
• Term Life & Accidental Death Insurance Group term life insurance designed specifically for professional pilots and their families, offering portable policies up to $1.5 million with no exclusions except suicide (removed after 2 years) and no health questions required for group enrollment.
• Critical Illness Insurance Supplemental insurance providing fast lump sum payments upon diagnosis of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke, designed to cover expenses and income gaps not handled by standard health insurance plans.
• FAA Medical Certification Advocacy Confidential representation and advocacy services helping professional pilots navigate the FAA Medical Division, led by former Federal Air Surgeons Dr. Mike Berry and Dr. Fred Tilton, to reduce grounding time and expedite medical certificate recertification.
• Claims Assistance Full-service claim assistance from application through recertification, with AME-trained claims consultants guiding pilots through every step of the disability claim process to help them return to the cockpit sooner.
• Aviation Medical Bulletin Monthly health newsletter published since 1969 providing pilots with up-to-date health and medical information, FAA updates, and wellness resources, available by subscription at $19.95 per year or $50 for three years.
• Pilot Substance Abuse Recovery Program (HIMS) Coordination service for pilots enrolled in the FAA's Human Intervention Motivational Study (HIMS) program, providing advocacy and minimizing recertification time for pilots recovering from alcohol and substance dependency.
• Return to Work Verification Verification service confirming pilots have proper FAA medical documentation to return to work, reviewing protected health information and ensuring compliance with FAA certification requirements.
• STD / LTD Claim Management Third-party administration service for Short Term and Long Term Disability claims, with AME-trained consultants providing comprehensive absence management for airlines, aviation organizations, and insurance carriers.
• Sick Leave Management Comprehensive sick leave program management offering five service tiers ranging from front-end verification to full disability plan administration for airlines and pilot groups.
• Fitness for Duty Evaluations Independent medical evaluation program helping airlines and aviation employers assess pilots' fitness for duty, with AeroMedical Physician Consultants providing recommendations while maintaining HIPAA compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 20 pilots are on disability every year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers29 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Delta Pilots Mutual Aid (DPMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvey Watt provides Loss of Medical License insurance programs, life insurance, and FAA medical certification advocacy for DPMA pilots. Delta pilots receive group rates through the mutual aid organization.
• NetJets / NJASAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdminister NJASAP Loss of Medical License (NLOM) plan provided by NJASAP to cover 60-67% of salary after company plan ends. Also manage SALCO and LOM claims for NetJets pilots.
• SAPA (SkyWest Airlines Pilots Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPA partnered with Harvey Watt to design exclusive Loss of Medical License Coverage for SkyWest pilots. Coverage provides up to $10,000/month tax-free to age 65 retirement.
• American AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for pilot disability claims services and Extended Sick Bank (ESB) Bridge Medical Review. Harvey Watt provides streamlined HIPAA-secure medical reviews for ESB bridge requests.
• JetBluecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvey Watt provides Loss of Medical License and life insurance programs at competitive group rates for JetBlue pilots. FAA medical certification advocacy included.
• Southwest AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for loss of license and life insurance products for Southwest pilots. Harvey Watt retained since plan inception to assist pilots with Long Term Disability claims.
• Alaska AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvey Watt provides Long Term Disability Plan administration and expert FAA Medical advocacy for Alaska Airlines pilots.
• Hawaiian AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull line of loss of license and life insurance products developed for Hawaiian Airlines pilots at negotiated group rates.
• Republic Airways (Local 357)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepublic Local 357 partnered for term life, critical illness, and loss of medical license insurance for pilots. Alternative to company Supplemental Life Plan.
• Allegiant AircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllegiant provides FAA Medical Certification Advocacy as an employer benefit through Harvey Watt. Confidential consultation available to pilots for medical legal questions.
• WestJetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServing WestJet pilots since day one with full line of loss of license and life insurance products at group rates.
• Aetna Life Insurance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAetna provides Group Disability Insurance for NJASAP pilots. Harvey Watt administers the plan and processes claims.
• MetLife Insurance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetLife underwrites Republic Local 357 term life insurance. Rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.
• AmericocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnderwriting partner for pilot disability insurance products. Harvey Watt processes claims and manages enrollment.
• NBAA (National Business Aviation Association)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership since 2005 with NBAA Pilot Safety Committee providing coverages tailored to Part 91/135 pilots. Best value combination of rates and plan features for individual and small groups.
• NATA (National Air Transportation Association)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNATA and Harvey Watt created NATA Loss of Medical License Disability Insurance Program by pooling membership for exclusive rates and plan features previously only available to major airlines.
• AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance products developed for AOPA pilot members at negotiated group rates since day one of company operations.
• The HartfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hartford provides Long Term Disability Insurance for Wheels Up pilots. Harvey Watt administers the supplemental Loss of License plan that works alongside Hartford coverage.
• FedEx ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFedEx provides AeroMedical advisor services as an employer benefit through Harvey Watt. Company-sponsored FAA medical support for FedEx pilots.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aviation Medical Advisory Service (AMAS): Premier FAA Medical Certification advocacy and aeromedical consultation service for pilots. Direct competitor to Harvey Watt's FAA Medical Certification Advocacy and HIMS substance-abuse programs, serving the same professional pilot customer base.
• AOPA Insurance Services: Insurance arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, offering pilot life, disability, and aviation insurance products at negotiated group rates. Comparable because AOPA is both a customer channel for Harvey Watt and a competing product source for pilot members.
• Avemco Insurance Company: Specialty aviation insurer (owned by Chubb) with deep roots in pilot and aircraft owner insurance. Comparable as a specialty aviation carrier focused on pilot-facing coverage, though historically more aircraft-owner than loss-of-license focused.
• Aeronautical Systems Holdings (B.B. Russell & Co. / BWI Aviation Insurance): Aviation insurance brokerage specializing in pilot and aircraft-owner coverage. Comparable as a direct competitor targeting pilot disability, life, and aviation insurance products for individual pilots and small operators.
• Sedgwick: Large third-party administrator (TPA) handling disability, leave, and absence management for major U.S. employers. Comparable because Sedgwick competes head-to-head with Harvey Watt's TPA services for airline disability claims administration.
• NBAA Insurance / Aviation Insurance Solutions: Insurance programs offered through the National Business Aviation Association for Part 91/135 operators. Already a channel partner for Harvey Watt, but also serves as a competing source for business aviation pilot coverage and a likely benchmark for international expansion.

Broad incumbents

• USAIG (United States Aircraft Insurance Group): Largest U.S. aviation insurance pool providing hull, liability, and aviation-specific coverage. A broad incumbent in aviation specialty insurance that overlaps with Harvey Watt's airline-fleet customer base but focuses on aircraft rather than pilot disability.
• Global Aerospace: Global aviation insurance pool serving airlines, corporate operators, and fractional fleets. Comparable as a broad aviation insurance incumbent with overlapping enterprise customers, though focused on traditional aviation P&C rather than pilot occupational disability.
• Starr Aviation: Specialty aviation insurance division offering hull, liability, and crew coverage for airlines, business aviation, and rotorcraft. Comparable as a broader-still aviation specialty underwriter with presence in pilot-related coverage.
• AssuredPartners (Aviation Division): Large U.S. insurance brokerage with a dedicated aviation practice serving airlines, FBOs, MROs, and corporate flight departments. Comparable as a multi-line aviation broker that competes for group insurance placement at airline and association level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harvey Watt & Co.