Built by aviation people. For aviation people.
Nacelle Partners was founded with a simple observation: Aviation businesses face unique insurance challenges that traditional carriers simply don't understand.
FBO owners were calling us for advice about finding PEO coverage that would include their ramp workers. MRO operators were frustrated with the complexity of managing workers' comp, property, environmental, and liability coverage across multiple carriers. Part 135 charter companies were struggling with the specific needs of flying crews and loss-of-license coverage.
And in every case, the answer from traditional insurance brokers was the same: "We can't help with that."
We knew better. We knew that aviation businesses weren't asking for anything unreasonable. They were asking for what every other industry takes for granted—integrated insurance coverage that actually addresses their specific needs.
So we built Nacelle Partners to solve that problem. A nacelle is the streamlined housing that protects an aircraft engine. It's the perfect metaphor for what we do: protect what powers aviation businesses. We partnered with the industry's most trusted organizations: FW Crum Insurance for binding authority and capacity, FrankCrum for white-labeled PEO infrastructure, NATA for distribution and partnership, and IAT for specialized aviation hull and liability coverage. We brought in Terra's AI-powered claims technology. And we recruited a team of professionals who actually understand aviation.
The result: The first insurance and PEO provider built exclusively for aviation businesses, with a name that reflects our mission: protecting what powers aviation.
Founder & CEO
James is a pilot, entrepreneur, and author with two decades of experience in insurance technology and business operations. He founded JBKnowledge, a consulting firm advising Fortune 500 companies, and created Terra, the AI-powered insurance platform now serving thousands of businesses across multiple industries. James holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and is an active member of YPO. When he's not building insurance solutions, you'll find him in the left seat of his Cirrus or working on his next book.
Chief Underwriter
Karl brings 20+ years of aviation insurance underwriting experience to Nacelle Partners. He spent a decade at Swiss Re building specialized aviation programs, then moved to XL Capital where he underwrote complex risks for the world's largest aviation operators. Karl's specialty is understanding the nuances of aviation-specific exposures—from FBO operations to international Part 135 carriers. He's a certified aviation insurance professional and serves as a consultant to the National Air Transportation Association on underwriting standards.
Nacelle Partners was built on strong partnerships with the most trusted names in aviation and insurance.
One of the oldest and most respected insurance carriers in the country. FW Crum Insurance grants Nacelle Partners full "power of the pen" authority to bind and issue policies. They handle all carrier paper, reserves, and reinsurance while Nacelle Partners manages underwriting, client relationships, and claims coordination. Their financial strength and underwriting expertise ensure we can deliver competitive rates and rapid binding on all insurance lines (Workers Comp, General Liability, Property, Auto, Umbrella).
NATA represents 2,200+ airports and serves over 3,700 aviation businesses nationwide. NATA has designated Nacelle Partners as an "Endorsed Insurance Program," meaning our partnership is vetted and approved by the association. Nacelle Partners receives an annual marketing sponsorship fee and event sponsorship funding from NATA (not per-lead or per-conversion fees). This is the same sponsorship model used by other endorsed carriers like Old Republic, Harvey Watt, and AssuredPartners. Members get preferred pricing with no broker markup or commission layers.
When aviation businesses need specialized hull and liability coverage, IAT is our go-to partner. They specialize in coverage that general liability carriers simply won't touch. One call to us connects you to IAT's expertise.
Our parent technology company powers our claims management, loss prevention, and underwriting decisions with machine learning and AI. Terra's 280+ person engineering team built the platform that makes Nacelle Partners possible.
Behind every Nacelle Partners quote and claim is real technology—not just a website.
Our underwriting algorithms analyze hundreds of data points from aviation operations to deliver instant quotes and accurate pricing. No guessing. No waiting for underwriters. Just data-driven decisions.
When a claim is filed, our AI system immediately analyzes the situation, prioritizes it, and connects it to the right resources. Claims that used to take weeks to resolve now move in days.
We don't just wait for claims. Our platform analyzes your operations and identifies risks before they become expensive problems. Real prevention. Real results.
Your payroll data, claims history, loss control reports—everything integrates seamlessly. Less paperwork. More insight. Better decision-making.
From ramp operations to MRO work to charter flying, our team knows the specific challenges you face. We're not trying to fit aviation businesses into a traditional commercial insurance box.
Your safety is our safety. Your efficiency is our efficiency. We connect you to loss prevention programs, safety resources, and operational best practices that actually improve your bottom line.
Instant quotes. Same-day binding. One-day renewals. We respect that your business moves quickly, so we move quickly too.
One policy. One carrier. One phone call. No layers of brokers. No confusing overlaps. Just integrated coverage that makes sense.
Nacelle Partners isn't a quick play. We're built for long-term partnerships with aviation businesses. That means we invest in your success, not just this year's premium.
Let's talk about building a better insurance program for your business.
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