The Embraer Phenom 300 broke the mold of the light business jet when it was introduced in 2009. Embraer, the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer, responded to requests from its customers for a larger jet (bigger than the Phenom 100) with great success. Since 2012, the Phenom 300 has accounted for more than half of the light jet's market share! Read on to learn more about how the Phenom 300 stands out from its competition in the light jet industry! Increased Capacity [...]

Although there are 5,000 airports in the U.S., only 500 of them get regular commercial service. Moreover, of those 500, only 70 airports offer frequent commercial flights. Businesses still need to get from A to B. One solution for today's global market is corporate aircraft. Read on to learn about aircraft valuation for three of the most affordable corporate jets.  Are Corporate Jets Doable? If you thought that Fortune 500 companies make up the most significant component of private [...]

The Learjet 45 comes from a long and trusted lineage of business jets. In the '70s, the name Lear Jet was synonymous with celebrities and businessmen.  Today, the Learjet 45 is an appealing model known for its performance, and dispatch reliability. If you're interested in this light business jet, we have a helpful overview of what you need to know. Bombardier Learjet 45 Specs The Learjet 45 was manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace, which acquired the Learjet Corporation. It [...]

Did you know that the U.S. makes up 49.7% of the world's market for private jets? Are you looking to sell your plane but not sure what to look for in an aircraft broker? Read on to discover the top tips to look for in an aircraft broker. Professional Marketing When you're considering an aircraft broker, it's essential to understand their professional marketing practices. Do they use e-mail, magazine print advertising, postal mail, or other types of marketing? Find out [...]

Approximately half of all of the world's private jets are owned by citizens of the US. Is it celebrities with private planes which make up a large portion of that statistic? Or is it mainly CEOs with access to a company jet?  Who are the celebrities who own private planes? Who are the company executives jet setting around the globe on the company plane?  From the rich and famous Hollywood celebs to the well-known CEOs, read more to find out [...]

High-net-worth individuals and large companies, particularly those who travel internationally, often face an important decision. Deciding whether to lease or buy an airplane can be a difficult decision for several reasons. The decision to buy or lease an aircraft is one that you should discuss with several people, including your accountant, and your lawyer. There are pros and cons to each. Why Buy an Airplane?  Research has shown that, of all of the individuals and entities that use [...]

VREF Aircraft Value Reference often gets asked to help locate pilots, or even recomend a management company.  If you're one of the tens of thousands of people who own an aircraft, you may want to know how to hire a crew. With a shortage of qualified pilots, it can be a challenge to locate a pilot to hire permanently. If you are not an owner/operator, the process of finding the right company to manage your aircraft can be daunting. [...]

There are roughly 220,000 civil aircraft registered in the United States alone. You can determine the value for over 500 makes and models at VREF. Whether you're looking to buy or sell an aircraft, one of your first steps is to get an appraisal. A proper evaluation will allow all parties involved to know the value of the plane. The aircraft appraisal process is straightforward in most cases and should take a short time to complete. Keep reading to learn [...]

Believe it or not, traveling by aircraft is still by far the safest form of travel. According to the NTSB, in 2016 there were only 108 accidents and 29 fatalities.  And considering some of the places pilots try their luck at landing, that's an even more impressive record!  If you're a pilot, you might want to consider avoiding the most dangerous runways—then again you may want to start a new bucket list! But where are these dangerous airports? Read [...]