Norridgewock airport committee weighs loaner-car program; insurance and eligibility remain hurdles

The Norridgewock Airport Committee spent the meeting reviewing options to obtain a courtesy loaner car for visiting pilots through state and federal surplus-property programs and debating whether the town should run such a program.

Members described two acquisition paths: a state surplus program (SASP) that may charge a 4% fee on vehicle value and a federal/federal-property channel (GSA/FAA) that committee members said can yield donated vehicles with no fee. The committee cited Eastport and Bangor as examples of airports that operate loaner-car programs.

Insurance and administration dominated the discussion. Members reported that some airports have added a loaner vehicle to municipal insurance and paid about $1,000 a year; others require drivers to prove they carry insurance or restrict eligibility to visiting pilots only. Committee members worried that adding a vehicle to municipal coverage could expose the town to greater liability and said they did not want to become a rental-car operator.

Practical controls discussed included requiring pilots to show proof of insurance, restricting use to incoming flyers (not local residents), charging modest fees for extended use, and limiting responsibility for maintenance and inspections to a designated staff member or volunteer. Several attendees said they would research policies at other airports and report back.

The committee assigned a follow-up task to collect sample written policies from airports that operate loaner cars and to check with the town's insurance broker about possible costs and coverage limits.