Our History
Over 55 Years Helping Pilots
Captain Harvey Watt began his career in aviation training US Army Air Corps cadets how to fly. In 1940 he bought his first plane, a Cub Coupe, with the help of 9 other investors and began flying across the country selling insurance from town to town. As he rose through the ranks of Eastern Airlines, Harvey realized that there was no coverage or assistance available to his fellow pilots should they become disabled. He saw firsthand the devastating effect health issues could have on the lives of his fellow airmen and their families. He set about to develop such a coverage and Loss of License Insurance for professional pilots was born. Lloyds of London was the only carrier that would agree to underwrite this new insurance. The original insurance in 1951 was designed to pay off the mortgage and put two kids through college amounting to $12,500.
Harvey Watt understood that Aero-Medical assistance was just as important as the insurance he had invented. He hired a full time senior Aero-Medical Examiner to serve as the company’s medical director. Then, as now, every customer was given free, unlimited access to the company physician who is familiar with the intricacies of the FAA. The reassurance and peace of mind this service has provided thousands of pilots since 1951 is immeasurable.
Harvey Watt & Co. later became the first corporate member of the Aerospace Medical Association (ASMA). Harvey was awarded a Fellowship in the ASMA for his contributions in the field of aviation medicine. As a member of the International Congress of Aerospace Medicine, Harvey Watt would work with aviation health experts around the world. Today, two awards are given to outstanding members of the Aerospace medical community each year by Harvey Watt & Co at the annual ASMA meetings. The Company also became a member of the Civil Aviation Medical Association and gives the Audie Davis, MD Award annually. As a member and active sponsor of the Aviation Medical Directors Association, Harvey Watt & Co. strives to stay as close and active a member of the Aero-Medical community as possible.
The goal of Harvey Watt & Co. has always been to get pilot’s back on flying status. The first sky-jacking in the 50’s ended with the skyjacker discharging the gun in the cockpit and the pilot losing sight in one eye. The Aero-Medical staff of Harvey Watt & Co., was able to prove to the FAA that depth perception is a learned trait and thus get the pilot healthy and back on flying status.
As many legacy carriers, unions, and pilot groups began to form their own Loss of License Insurance for their pilots, they partnered with Harvey Watt & Co to help design their plans and also manage them. Drawing on their resources and experience in the field, Harvey Watt & Co has been able to develop new products and services to meet all of their clients’ specific needs. Today the company still sells loss of license insurance in the form of monthly pay or lump sum while also continuing to offer pilot specific life insurance. In addition, Harvey Watt & Co also manages pilot disability policies or provides Aero-Medical Services for all types of organizations working with airmen internationally. Please visit our full line of products and services that can be taylored to meet your needs.