We are sad to mark the passing of the name of SpaceTrak launch and satellite database’s one time alma mater, the aviation claims and adjustment firm Airclaims. This was after its owner McLarens (formerly McClarens Young) decided to rebrand its Airclaims division as McLarens Aviation. The change is especially poignant as Airclaims has just celebrated its official 50th anniversary in the business – though, in truth, its history stretches even further back, to the end of the Second World War.
While occasionally having to field amusing enquiries about “lost luggage” nevertheless the distinctive Airclaims name became very well respected in insurance and aviation industries for its adjustment, data and consultancy services.
While civil aviation claims became once again its main business, Airclaims engineers, surveyors and lawyers, supported by the Space data team, were sometimes appointed to adjust spaceflight related losses, usually involving damage to launch pads and surrounding areas caused by falling launch vehicle stages.
Airclaims was even appointed as the loss adjuster for the Mir space station in the event that it caused any damage during its re-entry. Thankfully its re-entry went without incident.
McClarens merged with Airclaims in 2011. Before this happened, Airclaims had already spun off SpaceTrak as part of its Ascend aviation data and consultancy arm which, in turn, was later sold to Flightglobal.
SpaceTrak became the lead product in Seradata’s stable after the space data team left Flightglobal in a management buy out of the space data business.
As we mark the end of the Airclaims brand, the Seradata space team (including this writer) salutes the old firm for everything that it did for us and for SpaceTrak. The SpaceTrak launch and satellite database lives on and is thriving. It will soon be further improved via its third and newest development iteration at the turn of the year.
