Using an aircraft buyer’s agent can save you a great deal of money and frustration. As your agent, we perform all of the following services. Most often, the seller will pay our commission.
Consultation
We discuss with you your mission profile and budget to determine the best aircraft for your needs. This means you won’t spend extra money for seats or performance you don’t need. Does a very fast jet mean the shortest trip time? Not always. A slower aircraft with greater range may actually have a faster trip time if the faster aircraft requires a fuel stop and the slower aircraft does not. Site to site trips of less than 300 miles are often faster in a helicopter. A smaller aircraft may significantly shorten trip time because they can often get into airports with shorter runways closer to your destination.
Older aircraft can be inexpensive to purchase, but maintenance, downtime, and operating expenses can end up making an older aircraft more expensive to own in the long run. This is why Jet Set Aero advises on the acquisition of moderately used aircraft from manufacturers that offer a substantial network of service centers. A 10 year old aircraft almost identical to a new one can cost 50% or less without a substantial increase in operating costs. We do have some exceptions to this rule for highly updated older airframes.
Negotiations
We scour the marketplace for the selected aircraft and find recent selling prices of similar types, then determine a fair price, and negotiate the purchase on your behalf. Your deposit is held in escrow until the transaction is completed.
Pre-buy Inspection Oversight
We will oversee a pre-buy inspection of the airframe and engines performed by an authorized maintenance facility. A pre-buy inspection can reveal large costly maintenance items that can either influence price negotiations, or eliminate the aircraft as a prospective purchase.
Closing & Registration
We conduct the closing on the aircraft and submit all paperwork to the FAA to register your aircraft.
Tax Benefit Program Enrollment
We will enroll your aircraft in a tax benefit program with an aviation tax firm that collects mission data and determines the proper deductions available to you and your business.
Inspection & Maintenance Program Enrollment
Your aircraft will require periodic inspections and maintenance. We will enroll your aircraft into programs to maintain the aircraft’s safe airworthy condition and regulatory compliance. Fixed hourly price programs are available on some airframes and engines that cover all regular inspections, maintenance items, and overhauls, and can provide additional benefits such as loaner engines and faster turnaround.
RVSM LOA
RVSM stands for “Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums” and applies to aircraft capable of flying in airspace from 29,000 feet to 41,000 feet. The FAA requires a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to operate in this airspace. This LOA requires that an RVSM operations manual be created and keep in the aircraft, and that the aircraft be approved to operate in this airspace. We will create the RVSM operations manual and submit the application to the FAA. This can take several weeks, and until then, your aircraft will be restricted to flying no higher than 28,000 feet, or if capable, 43,000 feet and above. Â RVSM approval is not required for transitioning through RVSM airspace.
MEL LOA
The FAA requires that all instruments and equipment installed in an aircraft must be operational before any flight. This means that if you have three radios, and one fails, you can’t fly the aircraft without a special flight permit from the FAA. This is where a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) comes in handy. It is a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the FAA that permits you to operate the aircraft under special conditions should any instruments or equipment be inoperative. There are a total of four documents that must be included in the MEL manual that we develop and submit to the FAA for approval.
Pilot Training Oversight
Pilot training is the single most important safety consideration when operating an aircraft. We will oversee the training of the selected pilots to an approved simulator and flight training course and review their performance. If you decide you want to be your own pilot, we will advise you through all the training required to operate your own aircraft and can provide the training ourselves if requested.
Data & Weather Subscriptions
Your aircraft will be equipped with a variety of technology that will require subscriptions for periodic data updates and in-cockpit weather information. We will advise you on the subscriptions you require for your mission profile and initiate those subscriptions.