Class Code 7424
Aircraft Operation – Flying Crew
Class Code 7424 covers employees who form the flying crew of aircraft — pilots, co-pilots, flight engineers, loadmasters and other personnel whose duties are performed in flight. This classification is focused on operational flight duties rather than ground maintenance, and California's approved pure premium rate for 9/1/2026 is $2.242 per $100 of payroll. Understanding this code helps employers correctly classify payroll, manage safety exposures, and control workers' comp costs.
What Class Code 7424 Covers
This classification applies to personnel actively engaged in aircraft operation while airborne or performing duties directly tied to flight operations. Typical operations include piloting fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft for charter, corporate, air taxi, air ambulance/medevac, aerial survey, and air tour services. It covers flight deck crew (captains, first officers), flight engineers, loadmasters who manage cargo and weight-and-balance during flight, and in some operations in-flight safety attendants when their primary duties are performed during flight. It does not cover ground-only workers such as mechanics, ramp agents, or fueling crews—those functions are assigned to separate WCIRB codes. Employers should classify employees under 7424 only when their payroll is for duties performed as part of the flying crew.
Who It Applies To
- Air charter and air taxi companies employing pilots and co-pilots
- Corporate flight departments with full-time flight crews
- Air ambulance and medevac operators (pilots, flight engineers, loadmasters)
- Aerial survey, photogrammetry, and air tour operators with in-flight crew
- Helicopter operators performing transport, utility or emergency response flights
Common Job Duties
- Preflight briefings and aircraft performance/weight-and-balance calculations
- Operating flight controls, navigation systems, autopilot and radios
- Monitoring aircraft instruments, fuel systems and on-board diagnostics during flight
- Communicating with air traffic control and coordinating flight plans
- Managing cargo and passenger safety in-flight, deploying emergency equipment
- Responding to in-flight emergencies (engine failure, decompression, fire)
- Completing flight logs, incident reports and post-flight checks
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.242 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $2.242 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of claims per unit of payroll before insurer adjustments. An employer's actual workers' comp premium is calculated by multiplying payroll by the pure premium rate, then applying experience modification, insurer loss-cost multipliers, policy premiums, assessments, and any credits or debits. Final premium is affected by your loss history, classification accuracy, payroll reporting, safety and return-to-work programs, and any state assessments or policy-level adjustments.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
In-flight operations are primarily regulated by the FAA for operational safety, but Cal/OSHA requirements apply to workplace safety elements under state jurisdiction—particularly ground operations, maintenance activities, fueling, and employee training. California employers with flying crews must maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), hazard communication for fuels and chemicals, appropriate respiratory protection when exposed to fumes, fall protection when working on elevated parts of the aircraft, and heat illness prevention for ground-based exposure. Coordination between FAA operational requirements and Cal/OSHA workplace safety programs is essential to meet both regulatory regimes.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 7424
A PEO like Key HR can help employers with Class Code 7424 by ensuring correct payroll classification and accurate reporting, centralizing workers' comp claims management, and providing targeted safety and fatigue-mitigation programs. Key HR can also coordinate return-to-work plans, provide OSHA-focused training and recordkeeping support, and leverage carrier relationships to speed claim resolution and control loss costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 7424 cover mechanics and ground crews?
No. 7424 covers flying crew members whose primary duties are performed in flight. Ground maintenance, airframe and powerplant mechanics, ramp agents, and fueling personnel are assigned to separate WCIRB codes and must be reported under those classifications.
If a pilot is injured on the ground after flight operations, is that still under 7424?
If the payroll charge is for flying duties, the pilot is generally classified under 7424 even if an injury occurs on the ground after a flight. However, employers must separate payroll for non-flight duties (ground training, office work) and classify those hours appropriately. Accurate payroll allocation is key to proper classification and premium calculation.
How can using a PEO change my workers' comp costs for flying crew?
A PEO can improve cost control by ensuring correct employee classification, centralizing premium reporting, implementing tailored safety and fatigue-management programs, and managing claims to reduce duration and severity. While the pure premium rate is set by the state, the PEO helps reduce the experience modification and other insurer adjustments that determine your final premium.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 7424
- Classification
- Aircraft Operation – Flying Crew
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.242 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
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