The Market Feels Different Now—and the Numbers Prove Why Here we are in the final stretch of 2025, and the aviation market feels like it’s moving at two speeds at once. Some aircraft are flying off the shelf faster than we’ve seen in years. Others are sitting longer, even as sellers cut prices. Buyers are showing up, but they’re more selective than ever. Sellers still want 2021–2023 numbers, but that era is gone—and the market has made [...]

Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2025 (PDF)Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2025 (PDF) Wow—summer went fast. I love the good weather and “vacation mode,” but let’s be real: parenting through summer is a marathon. With the kids back in school and Labor Day approaching, it feels good to shift gears and get back to work. The markets certainly are ready; they have been slow, and while the summers are always a bit slower, they have not been this sluggish in some [...]

Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2025 (PDF) Welcome to Q2: A Market Off the Yellow Brick Road I’m excited to share the beta launched, all-new VREF Online with you. These aren’t minor changes; they are substantial. We didn’t just modernize our look; we revolutionized aircraft valuation delivery. VREF Online is faster, smarter, mobile-friendly, and more intuitive, and it’s designed for the real-world workflows of appraisers, brokers, buyers, sellers, lenders, and insurers. If you haven’t logged in yet, now’s the time. [...]

What a year it’s been for aviation, artificial intelligence (AI), and countless other advancements in technology and engineering. In fact, the global private jet market is projected to reach $35.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2021 to 2028.  As airlines and manufacturers adapt to evolving consumer demands and sustainability goals, new models are emerging that prioritize efficiency and environmental responsibility. Also, advancements in air traffic management and safety protocols have enhanced operational reliability, [...]

As the President of VREF, standing at the helm of an organization that has navigated the skies of the aviation industry for three decades, I'm reminded of the wisdom of Amelia Earhart: “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. [...]

This year has been a flash in the pan, and it's hard to believe Thanksgiving is a week away. What a difference a year makes. To think it was all doom and gloom this time last year is almost hard to believe. While there are still many unknowns in terms of the global supply chain, inflation, interest rates, and the third pandemic winter, the one thing I can say for sure is general aviation is back. I remember [...]

The past three months have been interesting. Typically the 2nd quarter newsletter is focused on on-air shows and conferences. This year that is not the case. The world, as we know, came to a screaming halt in the first week of March. We have witnessed the entire commercial airline industry, travel and leisure sectors, restaurants, shopping malls, as well as tens of thousands of small businesses close. We have all been quarantined, literally watching the grass grow, [...]