Buying&Selling 2.qxp_Finance 19/04/2022 10:43 Page 1
BUYING & SELLING AIRCRAFT
AVBUYER.com
Buying Tips: Rules for a Successful Jet Transaction Are you buying a private jet for the first time? What should you know about the transaction to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible? Seasoned Aviation Director Andre Fodor shares some rules…
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he current appetite for new and preowned business aircraft has seen prices rise to premiums. The marketplace sees not only a shortage of aircraft, but of flight crew, and the people who support operations and provide ground services. In view of this, let’s discuss the acquisition process for buyers looking to purchase a business jet in today’s market… A potential client called me once wanting to purchase a Light Jet. As I tried to explain the process of buying jets – the dos and don’ts of getting the right one – it was clear he was far more interested in schooling me. “As a successful entrepreneur”, he began, “and having purchased expensive cars and boats, buying a jet is a similar purchase”. He genuinely believed he could simply find a great buy over the internet and put in an offer. Politely, I replied that while he seemed to believe 44 Vol 26 Issue 5 2022 AVBUYER MAGAZINE
in what he was saying, I have a money- and hasslesaving process that’s worked well for me, and to let me know if I could be of assistance in the future. Of course, not everybody is like that entrepreneur. For those genuinely keen to understand the perils of unsophisticated buying in the Business Aviation arena, and how to avoid them, the following should serve to help you stay out of trouble:
Rule 1: Know Your Need
Before starting the acquisition process, you should identify what your medium- and long-term needs for the aircraft are. What will the typical flight distances be, the frequent destinations, the performance requirements, and the usual payloads carried? There’s a good reason for getting a clear idea of exactly what you need... I was once retained by the owner of a recently purchased Large Jet. They were having problems
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