Lockton has launched a dedicated US Aviation Practice and named Taylor Anderson (pictured) as its leader, consolidating the brokerage's aviation and aerospace specialists into a single national platform as the aviation market hardens for higher-risk US operators and space insurance demand expands rapidly.
Gallagher's latest market report found continued technical rate increases likely through 2026, particularly for operators with US exposures or high-risk profiles, while repair costs from even minor incidents such as bird strikes have climbed roughly 39% over three years.
The new practice is built around five priorities: deepening industry specialization, driving collaboration across Lockton's business units, investing in aviation talent, expanding the firm's presence across aviation sectors, and drawing on Lockton's global capabilities - including in space launch - to support US clients. Global space insurance premiums are projected to grow 9.1% to $4.43 billion in 2026, driven by rising satellite launch volumes and growing demand for mission risk and liability coverage.
Anderson, who previously spent seven years as Lockton's senior vice president for defense and aerospace in the southeastern US, brings experience across commercial aviation, aerospace and defense contracting, aircraft leasing and finance, airports, maintenance and repair operations, and government and mission-based aviation programs. He is based in Atlanta.
Patrick Simonds, Lockton's US strategy and operations director, said Anderson's "deep aviation expertise and collaborative leadership style" made him well suited to lead the practice. Anderson said the launch means Lockton is "better positioned than ever before" to bring clients specialized aviation expertise and global resources.
For brokers without in-house aviation capability, the launch signals a clearer specialist resource to route complex aviation and aerospace placements through, particularly as standard markets tighten for higher-risk operators and space-adjacent exposures become more common among manufacturing, technology and government-contracting clients.
