Hi Delta VV,
The questions you raised would certainly form a basis upon which to calculate one's contribution rate. Added to this would be a myriad of other factors, least of all the value of the asset, and the hours used. This would be an important consideration.
Whilst the original principle of insurance (going back over 10000 years in Chinese history) is about carrying cross-risk and cross-subsidisation, factors that need to borne in mind is the fact that an aerie sitting in a hangar most of the time is far less risk-exposed than a gyro doing 20/30 hrs per month.
Apart from pilots logging their times, it is mandatory that every craft logs airframe time as well. This will go a long way in determining rates, rebates and incentives, etc.. As this info has to be submitted to CAA annually, so why not extend it to include favourable insurance cover?
As I indicated in an earlier posting, we have to create a completely unique product that fulfils the needs of the microlight fraternity, and it cannot be based on any other industry segment structure or experience. Suggestions such as yours go a long in creating a framework from which to build a unique product. :D
Regarding motorcar insurance, in recent months there has been a big promotional push by insurance companies to charge according to the number of miles/kilometres a vehicle has travelled, rather than a blanket rate irrespective of the number of miles/kilometres travelled. This is a far more equitable contribution to risk cover. Someone is waking up to the fact that the technology is available to the development, and maintenance, of a "consumption based" personal risk profile calculation. In fact, it has been around for years, but adapting to change is always the hardest hurdle for most people to overcome.
Not only has the technology been available to achieve this, it is very cheap. For instance, monthly/annual pilot and airframe times can be posted via the internet and precludes the need for teams of data capture clerks. Using this method would earn the insured rebates and a host of other incentives, over and above his/her already reduce premium.
Furthermore, by keeping this exclusive to microlighters, the absolute maximum number of members would be a little more than 2500. Hence, there would be no cross-subsidisation of administration costs for other products, which are invariably loss-leaders, and priced accordingly.
I'm under no illusion as to enormity of putting something like this together, notwithstanding the time frame of nothing less than 18 months. There would be critical masses that would have to be achieved, in terms of fraternity commitment, before any contributions would commence, not to mention the whole legalities, promotions, etc.
As mentioned previously, it would have to be run as "a Club" thus avoiding running foul of the DTI, FSB or any other statutory body. I first mooted this idea about 3 years ago, and have been actively involved in gathering as much information from many quarters as possible regarding all the legalities, statutes, pitfalls, you name it, I've sussed it out!!!! :D :D :D :D ------Not for sissies!!!! (As you so wisely observed.....a courageous task!)
I'm confident that with the right mix of Product, Price, Performance, together with a dash of enthusiasm, passion, and energy....anything is possible!!!!! Watch this space! :D :D
Worse still wont talk about it. Still trying to get my head around that one... 
