Ensuring Effortless Transactions Throughout your Aircraft’s Lifecycle

From your first aircraft purchase, through maintenance, refurbishment, upgrades and even the sale, recycling or disposal of your business jet, Jet Aviation has been efficiently operating your valued assets, of all types and models, for more than half a century.

More recently, in response to increased demand across our network, we’re using our experience to support Pre-Purchase Inspections (PPIs) for parties of used aircraft transactions.

“Buying an aircraft is similar to buying a house,” says Stefan Verkaik, Director Aftermarket Services & AOG at Jet Aviation’s Maintenance and Completions Center in Basel, Switzerland. “It needs to meet your personal needs, but it’s also a huge investment that comes with risks. Like a previously owned home, you want to know how the aircraft was used and taken care of, and if there are any structural or ongoing maintenance concerns that might make ownership too onerous. When done correctly, the PPI is an exacting process that benefits everyone involved.”

Essentially intended to assure an aircraft’s airworthiness, a PPI typically has two aspects. A thorough documentation review involves analyzing all the relevant information on the technical condition and history of the aircraft, including maintenance checks, findings, and repairs. Then there’s the physical inspection of the aircraft, the airframe, engine, and avionics, for example, to assess its condition and ensure proper functioning. Assuming the PPI is carried out by a neutral and qualified maintenance organization for the relevant aircraft type, it can help the buyer and seller alike make an informed decision regarding the true value and technical status of the aircraft.

“Like a previously owned home, you want to know how an aircraft was used and taken care of before you buy it – if there are any structural or ongoing maintenance concerns that might make ownership too onerous. When done correctly, the PPI is an exacting process that benefits everyone involved.”

“With different parties involved on both sides, timing is invariably critical to used aircraft transactions,” adds Verkaik. “With our own dedicated PPI documentation review team and certified engineers and technicians in all aircraft types, we are pleased to provide non-biased, fair and critical evaluations of aircraft within an agreed time period.”

Basel’s Senior Director of Program Management, Marc Kuehni, added, “PPIs can identify possible anomalies that may not be evident to an untrained eye and customers appreciate our experience, expertise and flexibility. They also value our extensive on-site capabilities and often come back to us following purchase of their aircraft for RMU services (Refurbishments, Modification and Upgrades). Two recent PPIs, both on large cabin aircraft, led to major interior refurbishments coupled with exterior paint.”

“PPIs can identify possible anomalies that may not be evident to an untrained eye and customers appreciate our experience, expertise and flexibility. They also value our extensive on-site capabilities and often come back to us following purchase of their aircraft for RMU services. Two recent PPIs, both on large cabin aircraft, led to major interior refurbishments coupled with exterior paint.”

Whether you’re buying or selling an aircraft or interested in doing some upgrades, Jet Aviation is committed to building long-term relationships with its customers based on trust and transparency. Ensuring effortless transactions throughout your aircraft’s lifecycle is the company’s passion — and, as they say, passion always wins.