Press Releases - July 30, 2008

AVEMCO® CONTINUES SUPPORT OF GENERAL AVIATION COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FAASTeam WINGS, AERI and BAP Benefit

OSHKOSH, WI (July 30, 2008) – Jim Lauerman, President of Avemco Insurance Company today announced updated information on Avemco's continuing effort to promote safety through education and long term growth of the general aviation population. Along with sponsoring the Airmanship Education Research Initiative (AERI) and Build A Plane (BAP), Avemco is now an FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) Industry Member.

In Avemco's role as a member of the FAASTeam Avemco takes on sponsorship of the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program WINGS lapel pin reward for pilots who complete the various phases of the program – BASIC, ADVANCED and MASTER.

"Avemco is proud to announce that we've become a FAASTeam Industry Member and to sponsor the WINGS lapel pins. Participants earn a pin for completion of each 18 credit phase of the WINGS Program" Lauerman said. Avemco made the decision to participate in the WINGS program because it believes the new program provides a much improved framework for increasing a pilot's proficiency and decision making.

Kevin Clover, National FAASTeam Manager said, "We are very happy to have Avemco's support in this important pilot education program. The WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program is available to all pilot levels nationwide. This partnership with Avemco helps us to promote aviation safety to over 400,000 registered pilots and identify the three levels of WINGS participants who complete our safety training."

Exceptional progress is also being made on the AERI project with the first beta-test seminar held recently in Denver, CO. This test was made possible by the combined contributions of many of the current sponsors of the program including Advanced Aviation Simulators, Research Boston, Cirrus Design and Avemco. The goal of AERI is to uncover new and innovative education and training methodologies that will make a material difference in the number of general aviation aircraft accidents.

"I cannot overstate the importance of this effort for general aviation," said Jim Lauerman. "In my 30+ years in the aviation insurance industry I have witnessed too many senseless injuries and deaths from the same accident causes year after year. Along with seeking to reduce the number of accidents overall AERI also hopes to uncover the answer to this perplexing situation. I encourage all in general aviation to pay close attention to this research project," he continued.

Avemco is one of the early supporters of the Build A Plane organization with the donation of several aircraft damaged as a result of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Being involved in bringing real airplanes into high school classrooms is a unique and promising method of introducing aviation to young people with a view toward encouraging them to choose aviation as part or all of their future.

Because of ongoing efforts by Avemco and other sponsors, BAP has its first physical presence at AirVenture with a display in the GAMA booth. GAMA graciously donated the space for the organization to assist it with building broader awareness and potential participants in the program.

Avemco Insurance Company, a leading pleasure and business general aviation insurer in the United States, has been insuring planes and pilots since 1961. Headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, Avemco is rated A+ (Superior) by A. M. Best Company and AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor's. Avemco is a subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HCC) a leading international specialty insurance group with assets of more than $8.2 billion.