Is your aircraft due for its annual inspection? What do you actually know about this critical part of airplane ownership? Annual inspections keep your aircraft in safe, airworthy condition. You can address any issues before they cause an accident. Your inspection records are important when you sell your plane too. Good record-keeping and a history of making any necessary repairs can increase the resale value of your aircraft. Find out more about required aircraft inspections. You'll be able [...]

There is no greater freedom than soaring among the clouds. Whether you are shopping for business or pleasure, shopping for an aircraft is often the antithesis of that freedom. Trying to figure out the maze of technical details and prices can be mind-boggling. It doesn't have to be hard, though! There are tons of ways to help match you with a perfect airplane. From accessing FAA records to negotiating lien dismissal, there are several ways to help you [...]

By Jason Zilberbrand , ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Ever wish there was a database with everything you could want as a buyer or seller of aircraft? VREF Online offers a load of useful information to pilots, potential aircraft owners, financial institutions, and other companies. All of this information regarding aircraft appraisal services can easily become overwhelming. For example, you may be asking yourself, “What is the difference between an appraisal versus a book value?” We [...]

By Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Buying an aircraft to build flight time seems like a good idea, right? Well, the answer is that it depends. There is no one-size-fits-all for what type of aircraft you should or should not own. Cost aside, including maintenance and storage, there are a few more things to consider before buying a plane to meet flight hours. Questions You Need To Ask Before Buying An Aircraft To Build [...]

By Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Many people continue to ask, “What makes airline tickets so pricey?” On occasion, even short-distance trips can amount to a total that’s higher than what you might expect. But aside from the time of year and location, what factors are the most costly for a commercial airline? Learn more about the 5 top commercial airline costs. Top 5 Airline Costs Due to COVID-19, airlines are seeing historic lows [...]

By Jason Zilberbrand, ASA, CAA, ISA AM, AOA AM, MRAeS Do you realize how vital aircraft logbooks can genuinely be? Not only does an aircraft logbook track and record essential maintenance, but it can also affect the price of your aircraft. Should you decide to sell later on, a missing logbook could knock off a huge chunk of profit you may have seen otherwise or force the buyer to walk away. Are you following aircraft logbook best practices? [...]

By Jason Zilberbrand, ASA The pandemic caused airlines across the globe to experience record losses due to canceled flights and the inability to fill seats. Following the height of COVID-19, the aviation industry experienced dramatic challenges it has never seen before. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines are estimated to lose “$84.3 billion in 2020 for a net profit margin of -20.1%.” As we are optimistic and expect conditions to improve slowly over time, there [...]

2021 brings a new era of first-time aircraft buyers. The interest in purchasing aircraft has increased despite the adverse events following the height of the pandemic. Suppose you are seriously considering making an aircraft purchase for the first time, congratulations! It's always invigorating to see someone new enter the aviation community. However, it’s critical to understand the process might be more complicated and take more time than you may expect. Before you start the purchase process, it’s important [...]

2020 impacted the aviation industry like never before. With the travel bans related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial airline industry came to a halt. As the new year came with an unusually silent ring due to the ongoing pandemic, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what to expect with the 2021 aviation industry. To help you, we’ve put together a guide on the 2020 aviation industry and what to expect in 2021. Moving Forward In Aviation [...]

What a time to buy a helicopter! The helicopter market is facing challenges unseen for over 40 years. Unbeknownst to many, helicopters have been having a hard time locating buyers. The oil and gas crisis parked much larger, twin heavy aircraft and COVID-19, as well as Kobe Bryant's untimely death, haven't helped. The helicopter industry is not all doom and gloom; in fact, older aircraft are being repurposed for fire fighting, ems, and other search and rescue [...]