What Aviation Insurance Association does

Aviation Insurance Association (AIA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1976 in Lexington, Kentucky, that serves the aviation insurance industry through certification, continuing education, and networking. AIA is governed by a volunteer board of directors drawn from across the industry's value chain, with representation from underwriters, brokers, agents, attorneys, claims professionals, reinsurers, and vendors, and maintains five staff members supplemented by Associations International for event management. Its member base spans 10 countries and 43 US states plus DC, with 330+ members of five or more years' tenure.

The core product portfolio centers on the CAIP (Certified Aviation Insurance Professional) designation and its CAIP Gold advanced tier, supported by the mandatory two-day Core Principles & Concepts Course (delivered in-person and virtually via TEAMS for up to 16 CIE credits), the Introduction to Aviation Insurance Course, and the FlightPathAIA on-demand learning portal. Membership is offered across five tiers (Premier $375, Executive $210, Associate $395, Discovery $85, Student $50) and includes access to the quarterly Binder magazine, educational archives, the member directory, safety resources, and the Aircraft Model Information Network (AMIN). AIA's annual calendar combines the Annual Conference (2027 Colorado Springs), AIA Open golf tournament, London Symposium, AIA/NBAA Joint Safety Roundtable, and regional networking receptions in Zurich, Canada, and elsewhere.

The revenue model is a stacked association mix: recurring annual membership dues, one-time course and certification fees, event registrations and conference sponsorships (ranging from $300 hole sponsorships to $20,000 closing-party sponsorships), and tax-deductible donations to the AIA Education Foundation (established 2008) supporting scholarships and the Wattles Fellowship. Technology infrastructure is standard association software (YourMembership.com) and a third-party learning portal (peachnewmedia.com) with no disclosed AI capabilities. Strategic positioning is enhanced by cross-recognition agreements with The Institutes (CPCU) and the Chartered Insurance Institute (UK), making AIA the principal credentialing and convening body for aviation insurance professionals in the US and increasingly internationally.

Name

Aviation Insurance Association

Legal name

Aviation Insurance Association

Website

https://aiaweb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Aviation Insurance Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1976 that administers the CAIP/CAIP Gold certifications, continuing education courses, and networking events for aviation insurance underwriters, brokers, attorneys, claims professionals, and vendors across 10 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Specialty (FSAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Aviation insurance association
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing insurance education
• Industry networking events
• Insurance membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $50 (Student) to $395 (Associate), with Premier ($375) and Executive ($210) tiers providing recurring annual revenue.
2. Educational Courses: Revenue from Core Principles course ($675 for members, $975 for non-members), optional exam fees ($175 member/$375 non-member), and standalone workbook sales ($75 digital, $100 printed).
3. Event Registrations: Registration fees for Annual Conference, AIA Open golf tournament ($250 individual, $1,000 foursome), London Symposium, and other events.
4. Conference Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages ranging from $300 (Hole sponsorship) to $20,000 (Closing Party), including welcome receptions ($7,500), hotel key cards ($5,000), mobile app ($4,500), lanyards ($3,000), and more.
5. Professional Certifications: CAIP designation application fees and CAIP Gold recertification fees for professional certification programs.
6. Education Foundation Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the AIA Education Foundation supporting scholarships and educational grants for aviation insurance professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Aviation Insurance Association is a professional membership association serving all facets of the aviation insurance industry through tiered membership, continuing education, industry-recognized certifications (CAIP and CAIP Gold), training courses, conferences, and networking events. It sells access to the Core Principles & Concepts Course, the FlightPathAIA on-demand learning portal, the quarterly Binder magazine, and signature events including the Annual Conference, AIA Open golf tournament, and London Symposium.

Product overview

The Aviation Insurance Association (AIA) operates as a professional association offering a unified portfolio of certification, education, and networking products and services for the aviation insurance industry. The core offerings include the CAIP (Certified Aviation Insurance Professional) designation and CAIP Gold advanced designation programs, which are supported by the Aviation Insurance Core Principles & Concepts Course—a mandatory two-day training program available in-person and virtually. The association publishes the quarterly Binder Magazine for industry knowledge sharing and has launched FlightPathAIA, an on-demand learning portal for recorded conference sessions and introductory courses. Additional educational offerings include the Introduction to Aviation Insurance Course and extensive Safety Resources curated by the Safety Committee. The membership program provides tiered access (Premier, Executive, Discovery, Student, Associate) to resources, archives, and networking events including the Annual Conference, AIA Open golf tournament, London Symposium, and Joint Safety Roundtable with NBAA. The AIA Education Foundation supports scholarships and grants through partnerships like the Wattles Fellowship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAIP Designation: Certified Aviation Insurance Professional designation awarded by AIA for continuing education and industry leadership in aviation insurance
• CAIP Gold Designation
• AIA Education Foundation
• FlightPathAIA
• The Binder
• Wattles Fellowship

Products and services

• Certified Aviation Insurance Professional (CAIP) Designation A professional certification program for aviation insurance professionals requiring coursework completion (CPCU courses and AIA Core Principles) and five years of industry experience, recognized industry-wide as a distinction of excellence and commitment.
• CAIP Gold Designation An advanced certification status awarded to CAIP holders who demonstrate sustained commitment through industry leadership, regular AIA participation, and ongoing involvement with industry educational programs, requiring 50 points across education, leadership, and participation activities.
• Aviation Insurance Core Principles & Concepts Course A two-day course covering risk management, aviation insurance law and contracts, hull and liability, CGL, and claims, available in-person and virtually, providing up to 16 continuing education credits and serving as a required step toward CAIP designation.
• Introduction to Aviation Insurance Course A half-day course developed for professionals with less than one year of experience in the aviation insurance industry, available virtually.
• Binder Magazine AIA's quarterly magazine published electronically, written by and for aviation insurance leaders, covering industry trends, claims guidance, safety reports, and market analysis. Archives are available exclusively for members.
• FlightPathAIA On-Demand Learning Portal An on-demand learning portal offering recorded educational sessions from AIA conferences, Binder articles, resources, and the Introduction to Aviation Insurance Course, with progress tracking, certificate of completion, and future integration for Continuing Education credits.
• Safety Resources Library An extensive digital library curated by the AIA Safety Committee containing safety reports, white papers, glossaries, knowledge base articles, and safety-related questions for flight departments and FBOs.
• AIA Annual Conference An annual gathering featuring continuing education sessions (CIE and CLE credits), industry keynoters, sporting clays tournament, golf scramble, and networking opportunities.
• AIA Open Golf Tournament An annual golf tournament event offering networking opportunities for aviation insurance professionals, with individual and foursome registration options.
• AIA London Symposium An annual event in London combining educational programming specific to aviation insurance with an industry networking reception, featuring professionals from the US, Canada, and across Europe.
• AIA Membership Program A membership program with five tiers (Premier, Executive, Discovery, Student, Associate) providing access to Binder magazine, discounted event registration, leadership opportunities, educational archives, member directory, and flight school database.
• AIA Education Foundation A foundation providing grants and scholarships to assist and encourage individuals to further their interest in aviation insurance as a career, including the Wattles Fellowship Partnership supporting fellows in the London insurance market.

Quantifiable outcome

• CAIP designation recognized industry-wide as distinction of excellence and commitment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Associations InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvent Manager Melanie Fransen is employed through Associations International, which provides event management services for AIA's educational and networking events throughout the year.
• Global AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Aerospace hosts the Core Principles course at their Morris Plains, NJ facility, providing classroom space and amenities for up to 20 in-person students. AIA member company providing venue support for AIA's signature educational course.
• YourMembership.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationYourMembership.com provides the association management software powering the AIA website, including membership management, event registration, member directory, online store, and community features.
• NBAA (National Business Aviation Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual AIA/NBAA Joint Safety Roundtable event featuring facilitated roundtable discussions on aviation safety topics. Joint initiative promoting aviation safety across both organizations' memberships.
• The Institutes (CPCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA accepts CPCU courses (500, 520, 530, 552) from The Institutes as part of CAIP designation requirements. CPCU courses are administered by The Institutes for insurance professional education.
• Chartered Insurance Institute (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA accepts various CII qualifications (Level 3 and Level 4 diplomas/certificates) for CAIP course waivers, recognizing UK insurance education standards as equivalent to CPCU courses.
• Atlanta National Golf ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for 2026 AIA Open golf tournament on September 21, 2026. Premier private golf and country club northwest of Atlanta with 18-hole championship course by Pete Dye and P.B. Dye.
• Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower BridgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for 2026 AIA London Symposium on October 27, 2026 from 2:00 PM – 7:30 PM. Hotel venue providing conference space for industry educational programming and networking reception.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): NBAA is the leading US association for business aviation, hosting the AIA/NBAA Joint Safety Roundtable with AIA. It is comparable as a vertically-focused aviation association with membership, education, and advocacy, though its members are operators rather than insurance professionals.
• National Air Transportation Association (NATA): NATA represents aviation businesses including FBOs, charter operators, and MROs. It overlaps with AIA in aviation safety advocacy and connects to AIA's corporate risk manager and operator members, making it a thematic peer in aviation industry association work.

Direct peers

• RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society): RIMS is the leading global association for risk management professionals, offering the RIMS-Certified Risk Professional (CRM) designation and annual conference. Like AIA, it serves a specific insurance/risk profession with certification, education, and events, though it spans all industries rather than aviation.
• Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB): CIAB represents the largest US and global insurance brokerage firms, providing legislative advocacy, education, and best practices. It is directly comparable to AIA in serving the brokerage community with association programming and is a structural analog for AIA's Agent/Broker Division.
• The Institutes / CPCU Society: The Institutes administers the CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) designation and is the broadest US professional insurance education body. AIA explicitly accepts CPCU courses (500, 520, 530, 552) toward its CAIP designation, making The Institutes the closest direct peer in professional insurance certification and continuing education.
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big 'I'): The Big 'I' is the national US association for independent insurance agents and brokers, providing advocacy, education, and networking. AIA's Agent/Broker Division parallels the Big 'I's' core focus on distribution-side insurance professionals with comparable membership, conference, and certification programs.
• National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA): PIA is a national US trade association for independent insurance agents, offering education, advocacy, and carrier appointments. It overlaps directly with AIA's Agent/Broker Division membership base and operates with a similar member-funded, association management model.
• Reinsurance Association of America (RAA): RAA represents US reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries, providing education, networking, and advocacy. AIA maintains a Reinsurance Division with directors from Swiss Re and other reinsurers, and RAA is the most directly comparable association serving the reinsurance side of AIA's membership.

Regional players

• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII): CII is the UK's leading professional insurance body awarding diplomas and chartered status, and AIA accepts CII Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications for CAIP waivers. CII is the closest international peer in professional insurance certification and operates a comparable designation-and-education model from the UK.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC): NAIC is the US state-based regulatory body governing insurance, setting standards and coordinating supervision across all lines. While not a membership association in AIA's mold, NAIC shapes the regulatory environment that AIA's members operate within and is a structural peer in the broader insurance ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AviationInsuranceAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aviation-insurance-association
• Xx.com/aiaheadquarters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aviation Insurance Association