What insurance is needed for tower lighting and FAA compliance maintenance?

Tower lighting maintenance for FAA compliance (Part 77 obstruction marking) requires the same base coverages as other tower maintenance work, plus additional considerations. Professional liability may be needed if your scope includes certifying lighting system compliance, performing inspections that the tower owner relies on for FAA reporting, or designing lighting configurations. An error in certification or inspection that results in an FAA violation or, worse, an aircraft incident, creates professional liability exposure. Your GL must cover aircraft-related claims. Standard GL policies contain an aircraft exclusion, but this typically applies to aircraft you own or operate, not to claims arising from a failure of tower lighting that contributes to an aircraft incident. However, confirm your GL does not exclude claims related to aid-to-navigation failures. The NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) reporting obligation when tower lights malfunction creates a chain of liability. If your maintenance negligence causes a lighting failure, and the owner fails to file a NOTAM because they relied on your monitoring system, and an aircraft strikes the tower, the litigation will be extensive. Ensure your professional liability and GL respond to this chain of events. Some tower lighting maintenance contracts require aviation liability endorsements.