Expert representation on your side of the table — usually at no cost to you.
Buying an aircraft is one of the largest and most complex purchases you’ll ever make, and the seller already has a broker working for them. As your buyer’s agent, Jet Set Aero represents only your interests — finding the right aircraft, negotiating the price, and making sure there are no expensive surprises after closing. And in most transactions, the seller pays our commission, so you get a seasoned advocate on your side at little or no cost to you.
Based in Portland, Oregon, serving aircraft buyers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
1. Finding the right aircraft
The most expensive mistake in aviation is buying the wrong airplane. We start with a conversation about your real mission — where you fly, how often, with how many people — and your budget, then recommend the aircraft that actually fits. You won’t pay for seats, range, or performance you don’t need.
Some of this runs counter to instinct:
- The fastest jet rarely means the shortest trip. A slower aircraft with greater range can beat a faster one that has to stop for fuel.
- Under 300 miles, a helicopter is often quickest — point to point, no airport detour.
- A smaller aircraft can save real time by getting into shorter runways closer to where you’re actually going.
We also look past the sticker price to the total cost of ownership. An older aircraft can be cheap to buy and expensive to keep. We generally steer clients toward moderately used aircraft from manufacturers with strong service-center networks — a ten-year-old aircraft nearly identical to a new one can cost 50% less to buy without a meaningful jump in operating costs. (There are exceptions for highly updated older airframes, and we’ll tell you when one is worth it.)
2. Buying it well
Market research & negotiation. We scour the market for the right aircraft, pull recent sale prices for comparable types, establish a fair number, and negotiate the purchase on your behalf. Your deposit is held in escrow until the deal closes.
Pre-buy inspection oversight. We arrange and oversee a pre-buy inspection of the airframe and engines at an authorized facility. This is where costly hidden problems surface — giving you leverage in negotiations, or a reason to walk away before it’s your problem.
Closing & registration. We conduct the closing and file all the paperwork with the FAA to register the aircraft in your name.
3. Making it ready to fly
A purchase isn’t finished at closing. We set up everything required to operate the aircraft safely, legally, and efficiently:
- Maintenance & inspection programs. We enroll your aircraft in inspection and maintenance programs that keep it airworthy and compliant. On many airframes and engines, fixed-hourly programs are available that cover scheduled maintenance and overhauls — and can include benefits like loaner engines and faster turnaround.
- Tax benefit enrollment. We connect you with an aviation tax firm that tracks your mission data and identifies the deductions available to you and your business.
- Regulatory authorizations. We prepare and file the complex FAA paperwork most owners never want to touch — including the RVSM authorization that lets your aircraft fly in the efficient high-altitude airspace between FL290 and FL410, and a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) that keeps you legally flying even if a single piece of equipment goes inoperative, instead of being grounded by a failed radio.
- Pilot training oversight. Pilot proficiency is the single most important safety factor in ownership. We oversee your crew’s training at approved simulator and flight courses and review their performance. And if you’d rather fly it yourself, we’ll guide you through every rating and endorsement you’ll need — and can provide the training directly.
- Data & weather subscriptions. We identify and activate the database and in-cockpit weather subscriptions your aircraft and mission require, and keep them current.
From “should I buy this?” to “wheels up” — and beyond
Most of our acquisition clients want to use their aircraft, not run it. Once the purchase closes, Jet Set Aero can step straight into flying and managing it for you: a dedicated professional pilot, full maintenance and regulatory oversight, and a single point of contact for everything. One relationship, from the first conversation through every flight that follows.
Let’s find your aircraft
If you’re considering a purchase anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, the first conversation is free — and there’s a good chance the seller, not you, will pay for our help.