XL Insurance has expanded its US aviation business with four new appointments to its New York-based underwriting team. The news comes after one of the most expensive periods since September 2001 for aviation insurers, with recent crashes off Brazil and Yemen last month. The losses are likely to put upwrad pressure on rates.

XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd., has hired three class underwriters — Armand Ferranti, Jr., Eileen Mitchell and Charles Koehler, and business analyst Isabel Marin.

Eric Donofrio, US Regional Manager for XL Insurance's aviation unit, said: "We anticipate that the team will continue to grow in 2009 and 2010." Mr. Ferranti, a licensed commercial pilot, joins XL Insurance from Global Aerospace where he worked as a general aviation underwriter. Ms Mitchell brings aviation brokerage experience having worked most recently for Integro as well as Marsh. She has also worked with law firm Mendes & Mount as a paralegal working in aviation litigation management.

Mr. Koehler, a licensed commercial pilot and certified flight instructor, joins XL from William Gallagher Associates where he worked as an aviation broker. He brings previous experience as a general aviation underwriter having worked with Global Aerospace. Ms Marin joins XL with more than a decade of aviation industry experience including her most recent position with FWS Aerospace, an aerospace consulting firm.