5X5 Aviation Insurance has been influencing underwriting by delivering customised aviation insurance options directly to pilots and aircraft owners. Now it has partnered with PlaneWX to recognise and reward pilots who make disciplined preflight weather decisions. As PlaneWX's exclusive insurance partner, 5X5 will provide eligible PlaneWX Pro Plus members with risk-based premium credits through its Safety Rewards programme.

The partnership reflects a core part of 5X5's underwriting philosophy: pilots who train more, prepare more thoroughly and make informed decisions are better risks. PlaneWX helps pilots put that into practice and helps them make more informed go/no-go decisions.

“Safety isn't a premium feature, and it shouldn't be treated like one,” explains Doug Tibbs, managing director of 5X5 Aviation Insurance. “We believe the way a pilot prepares and operates tells us something about risk. PlaneWX gives pilots another tool to make better decisions before they fly, and our job is to recognise that behaviour in the underwriting process. Safe and smart is how we describe our policies.”

Founded in 2025 by Navy veteran, commercial and instrument-rated pilot, and TBM owner Mark Wolfgang, PlaneWX is a pilot decision support system. It synthesises authoritative weather data against each pilot's aircraft and personal minimums into a single WX Score, feeds that briefing into an integrated flight risk assessment tool built on the FAA's PAVE framework and connects pilots to a peer mentor network so no one has to make a hard go/no-go call alone. The platform gives pilots that picture up to 14 days out, well beyond the 24-hour TAF window.

Verified PlaneWX Pro Plus members earn a five per cent risk-based premium credit at quote and bind, subject to 5X5 underwriting guidelines. At renewal, members who continue their PlaneWX Pro Plus membership may receive additional credit available for pilots who use the platform on at least 75 per cent of their flights. Eligible pilots can receive up to 10 per cent in total premium credits through the programme.

“PlaneWX doesn't tell you not to fly. It gives you the information to make that decision yourself, days earlier when you still have options,” states Wolfgang. “5X5 is the first insurer I've seen that treats that kind of preparation as something worth underwriting.”

The partnership expands 5X5's approach to rewarding safety beyond traditional measures such as recurrent training, flight activity and participation in pilot organisations. 5X5 already incorporates safety-related behaviours and data into its underwriting model, recognising that a more complete picture of how a pilot operates can lead to better-informed risk decisions.

“Good underwriting starts with better data,” Tibbs concludes. “When pilots demonstrate a commitment to preparation and proficiency, we want that to matter. This partnership gives us another way to reward those behaviours.”

Pilots can expect to see more content on safer flying from this partnership, including videos and newsletters focused on weather and better decision-making.