Header
Report title, policyholder name, policy number, and claim or file identifier. A concise header ensures immediate traceability to the correct file and supports automated indexing in document management systems.
A clear aerial statement creates an auditable record of what was seen from the air, reduces ambiguity about loss timing and scope, and helps insurers and policyholders reach faster, more consistent determinations while preserving evidence for subrogation or litigation.
The Insurance Aerial Statement is used by a mix of field and office roles across claims, underwriting, and loss control.
Parties who receive the statement include the insurer, policyholder, third-party vendors, and counsel when preservation of evidence is required.
A licensed adjuster prepares or reviews the aerial statement as part of a claims file. The adjuster is responsible for confirming the statement’s factual accuracy, linking it to claim numbers, and ensuring photos and coordinates are attached for audit and subrogation purposes.
The certified remote pilot or aircraft operator who conducted the flight supplies the operations summary, flight log, and signed attestation regarding conditions and observations; this role establishes chain-of-custody for imagery and metadata used as evidence.
| Field | Configuration | Action | Recommended setting |
|---|---|
| Capture links | Auto-attach photo URLs and metadata to the form |
| Signer order | Operator then adjuster then policyholder |
| Authentication | Email + SMS code or account-based SSO |
| Retention | Archive signed PDF with embedded audit trail |
Ensure the platform supports image attachments, audit trails, and the authentication level your insurer requires.
Follow policy notice period; often 24–72 hours for severe losses
Submit aerial statement as soon as practical, typically within 7–30 days
Retain original images and logs until claim closure
Do not alter originals if third-party recovery is possible
Adjuster response often within 7–21 days after receipt
Obtain insurer or policyholder approval for aerial survey.
Complete flight operations and capture imagery and logs.
Draft report, attach images, and verify GPS data.
Sign, deliver to claims system, and store audit trail.
Include an attestation clause and signatory block before presenting to witnesses or notary.
Confirm signer identity with government ID or credential analysis.
Signer signs in the presence of required witnesses or a notary.
Witnesses sign and provide printed names and addresses when required.
Notary completes acknowledgement or jurat and records the act.
If using Remote Online Notarization, retain A/V recording per state rules.
Store the notarized document and any RON recordings per retention policy.
Attach notarized attestation to the claim file and policy record.
Aerial survey documents roof uplift and debris distribution after a storm
Aerial statement records ponding and membrane breaches observed on multiple rooftop zones
Report title, policyholder name, policy number, and claim or file identifier. A concise header ensures immediate traceability to the correct file and supports automated indexing in document management systems.
Date/time, coordinates, altitude, platform type, and operator identifiers. Metadata allows the insurer to corroborate the visual record with flight logs and validate the conditions at the time of capture.
Brief description of the survey method, sensors used, and any limitations. Methodology notes explain whether imagery is oblique, nadir, thermal, or multispectral, which affects interpretation of the findings.
Objective, itemized descriptions of observed conditions or damage tied to photo IDs. Each finding should reference image numbers, approximate measurements, and location markers to support adjuster decisions and contractor scopes.
Embedded or appended photos, video stills, flight logs, and a manifest listing file names and timestamps. Attachments must be clearly labeled and matched to findings to preserve evidentiary weight.
Signed attestations by the operator and reviewing adjuster with printed names, dates, and contact details. Signatures establish responsibility for the report and, when notarized, add sworn attestations useful in contested claims.