SpacePlane project of Airbus Defence & Space: its insurance strategy
- Paper number
IAC-14,D6,2-D2.9,8,x25659
- Author
Mr. Christophe Chavagnac, Airbus Defence & Space, France
- Year
2014
- Abstract
Airbus Defence & Space (Space systems unit - formerly Astrium) is steadily preparing the development and operations of SpacePlane for various missions including commercial and non commercial. It is a business jet sized spacecraft combining two propulsion means: aero-engines and an advanced rocket propulsion system. It takes off from and lands to a standard runway and travels in between to the edge of space at 100 kms altitude or so. Whatever the mission is, there will be possibly paying passengers and some assets carried on board on behalf of business or government parties. As for any aerospace product, dedicated insurance policy has to be agreed upon in between SpacePlane operator(s) and insurance company(ies). Initially, for evaluating premium pricing for insurance policy, major duty of underwriters is to evaluate risks of casualties and injuries along a dedicated mission and related operated vehicle. Their analysis relies on two kinds of information: (1) item input provided by operator(s) which detail design of the vehicle and its operations emphasizing safety (of flight) policy and (2)lessons learned and available heritage related to programs of same class or close to. In case of SpacePlane of Airbus Defence & Space, both the vehicle itself and operations will be certified in the sense of civil aeronautic transportation. This paper will detail how this approach interacts with insurance policy and ultimately how Airbus Defence & Space, as integrator, will deal with this specific issue.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)