By Ken Dufour, ASA, MAM, ATP, CFI and Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Experimental amateur-built aircraft, often called “homebuilts” because they are typically built in people’s garages and basements, are the fastest-growing new aircraft segment in the United States. Amateur built aircraft are built by individuals and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as “experimental amateur-built” (E-AB). Advantages You get to build it Succeeding on a big project gives you a huge [...]

Have you ever wondered what an appraiser is looking at to determine value? This article will provide you some insight into what an appraiser is thinking and what information is critical to assessing the value of an aircraft and why! Appraising and learning how to appraise is an exciting topic and one that I get asked about often. Some people are intrigued by appraising and want to know what it takes to become one, and others want [...]

The corporate aviation industry generates $150 billion every year. The pandemic-based travel caused financial chaos to every airliner globally, but unlike previous recessions, the private plane is no longer frowned upon by the general public. Private jets swooped in to save the day, providing a safer way to travel. There are few, if any, ways to protect yourself from the virus once you arrive at a commercial airport. You will be subjected to checking your baggage, standing [...]

Private aircraft are one of the most expensive assets available to most consumers, with new private jets costing in the $3 million to $90 million range. If you are considering a purchase, then you might have already guessed - pulling the trigger on a private jet purchase is an overwhelming and often confusing experience. Buying a private plane, whether its a twin-engine Cessna or a custom Bombardier Global 6000, is complex, and the purchase process is as [...]

Less than half of business executives in a recent survey expect the global growth rate to increase over the next six months. The current global economic downturn has caused many executives to take a cautious approach to their business. They're looking for ways to cut expenses and just stay the course. However, periods of slow economic activity hold opportunities if you know where to look. Now is a good time to buy a business jet. A buyers' [...]

How much does a private jet cost to buy? Let's face it. Flying commercially, even if you're flying first class, sucks. If only we could all be Tony Stark, flying whenever we want - sipping brandy while we watch the clouds roll by. But wait, what if we could all be Tony Stark? The cost of private jets has been more affordable, and there are options you can choose to lower the overall price. So, let's go [...]

When is the last time you stepped foot in a commercial airport? It seems like ages ago, and for most of us, we can't wait until its 2021. In the event you do need to travel, there are options, and you can avoid the commercial airlines until they are safe again. Keep reading to learn more about chartering an aircraft. In the current realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, It might feel like your only options are to [...]

There is a long list of advantages to owning your airplane. Some are easily quantifiable, like how much faster it is to travel to certain places or the fact that private planes are safer than traveling by car. Other advantages of owning a private plane are harder to describe. The incredible experience of flight and of taking the pilot's controls. The visits you can make to friends and the people you can take with you on your [...]

By Ken Dufour, ASA, MAM, ATP, CFI and Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Reading the “Aircraft for Sale” advertisements can be exciting and misleading. As aviation-oriented people, we are conditioned to look for specific bits of information, which we believe will allow us to evaluate the product offered for sale. In the case of airplanes, this information can generally be segregated into three categories – airframe, avionics, and engine. There does seem to [...]

So you're looking to buy a helicopter. You must be wondering - Can I afford to purchase one? Well, that's not an easy question to answer. For starters, what type of helicopter are you looking to purchase? Are you familiar with the insurance costs and maintenance expenses associated with helicopter ownership? Helicopters can be bought at almost any budget. So should we leave it at that or take it a step further? In this article, we will [...]