Megan Kells

Are you thinking about selling your aircraft? Great! Are you considering selling it yourself? Well, not so great. Despite what you may think, selling aircraft is not an easy job, and it can be very time-consuming. This is what aircraft brokerage services are meant for.

Sure, you know people in the industry, you have some experience in sales, and you know your aircraft. All of that is great, but it’s still better to hire an aircraft broker to sell it for you. Are there costs for them to sell it? Of course. There are also costs if you sell it, and they could be higher.

At the end of the day, hiring a broker can not only give you peace of mind, they let you keep your schedule intact. No missed meetings or late appointments because you’re answering calls and digging up information you didn’t think anyone would be interested in. All you have to do is connect with your broker once in a while and collect the check when it comes in.

Brokers Save You Money

Brokers and their sales team will perform a market analysis so that your aircraft is sold for the perfect price, leaving nothing on the table. They will also put together a sales campaign, listing it both domestically and internationally, answer every call, talk to every interested buyer, answer every question, follow up on every lead, and negotiate the sale for you.

We Put Together a Campaign

We will launch a specific, targeted campaign built around your aircraft specifically and will launch it both abroad and here at home, in the U.S. This will generate interest that our experienced team will turn into serious prospects.

Keep up on Trends

Our team keeps up on all sales trends, knowing that what worked last year–or even last month—may need updating or tweaking. Buyers today are more sophisticated than ever before and research aircraft differently than they used to. We not only know how to reach them, we DO reach them.

We Play Excellent Follow Up

Follow-up is the name of the game. About 80 percent of sales are made on the fifth to 12th contact, according to the National Sales Executive Association. If you don’t follow up, don’t bother playing the game. This is the time we help your buyer overcome any stumbling blocks he may have before signing on the dotted line.

We Relate Well

Buyers aren’t interested in your sentiments and memories. That sounds harsh, but it’s true. With a broker they know they won’t get bogged down with emotional baggage and will receive professional assistance to buy the aircraft of their dreams—yours! They appreciate pros who can answer every question quickly and easily, helping them across the finish line with no problems.

Let’s Be Partners

We know your time is valuable. Ask yourself, where would your time be best spent? Doing what you love and do best? Or training someone to replace you every time you have to go show your aircraft to a potential buyer? Let us answer the pesky questions, give the tour, and stroke the potential buyer for you.

We put our experience and expertise to work for you. Give us a call at J.A. Air Center and let us take care of the rest.

Private aviation, which includes business aviation, is not one of those static industries where everything stays the same. It’s dynamic and always on the move, literally and figuratively. This makes it important to keep up with the trends in private aviation for 2019, in order to stay relevant in the market.

Industry Growth

Operators are predicting growth in the private jet market even though new aircraft sales have been a bit flat of late. That’s good news for the used aircraft market and the growth extends beyond providers to a growing (and younger) clientele. Entrepreneurs and Millennials are ready to explore private travel.

Pilot Shortage

The much-talked-about pilot shortage is still not only looming on the horizon (a shortage of 800,000 predicted over the next 20 years), but is currently felt by the private aviation community as it competes against commercial airlines who offer signing bonuses, regular flight schedules, and longevity.

Shared Charter Programs

Over the last few years, there have been efforts to take seat-sharing on charter flights to the next level. 2019 may be the year to see charter companies come up with a viable business model that bridges the gap between profit and loss.

Impending Regulation Impacts

Time is winding down for those yet to comply with the ADS-B requirement put in place by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). This expensive upgrade to tracking systems on older aircraft is required to be in place by January, 2020. It is expected to impact the preowned aircraft market, and possibly increase charter costs for older aircraft.

Increased Demand for Extreme Weather Charters

The number of on-demand charter flights related to extreme weather has spiked the last few years, whether due to fires, flooding, heavy snowfall, hurricanes or other emergencies. This could be for local evacuation purposes, bringing in supplies or crews, or for transport of government officials or media. Since private aviators can fly in and out quickly during these types of extreme weather events, and such events seem to be on the increase, it’s anticipated there will be more of these types of flights this year.

Digital or Die

Die might be a bit dramatic, but it’s obvious the wave of the future is here. Digital communication is no longer something cool, it’s something expected and those who don’t embrace the technology that includes social media, chat, instant messaging, and 24-hour phone support may struggle to compete in the marketplace. Customers expect these services that allow for faster and more efficient exchange of information.

Need for Infrastructure

Along with the predictions for a pilot shortage, are increases in the numbers of passengers, year after year. This could mean that not only will there be a struggle to get enough pilots, it could signal another struggle—to keep up with the needs of airport infrastructure. In the private sector, airport FBO’s, like J.A. Air Center, have done the upgrading needed to meet the increased demand for the long-term.

Interested in Chartering?

Do have a need for, or an interest in, chartering a flight? Give us a call at J.A. Air Charter today for more information or to book a flight.

Selling your own aircraft isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You might think all you have to do is put it on Craigslist and off you go. In reality, it’s like a dance; finding the perfect buyer and matching them up with the perfect aircraft and purchasing experience.

Even if you think you know the value of your aircraft, believe in your sales skills, are comfortable talking with people, and are motivated, chances are you would still be better served by a broker.

Not only would you save tons of time answering phone calls and teaching prospects a million little details they should know, you can sit back knowing an expert has you in his very capable hands and you don’t have to do much more than collect the check.

There are also a few more reasons you might not have considered:

Reason #1: Using a broker will save you money, even after paying the brokerage fee.

You will have an expert aircraft sales team who not only does the market analysis to price your aircraft exactly right; they will also develop the sales campaign, list the sale both domestically and abroad, take calls, educate potential buyers over and over again, follow-up on every lead, and negotiate for you.

Reason #2: We stay up on buyer trends, so you don’t have to.

The market is constantly shifting and what worked last year—sometimes even last month—may not work now. Even more, buyers are more sophisticated and research aircraft differently now than they used to. We know how to reach them.

Reason #3: We will develop a specific, strategic campaign.

We will launch a strategic marketing campaign both domestically and internationally. This will generate the interest to get calls rolling in and convert page views into serious prospects.

Reason #4: Follow-up. Follow-up. Follow-up.

The name of the game is follow-up. Without it, you might as well not bother selling anything at all. About 80 percent of sales are made on the fifth to 12th contact, according to the National Sales Executive Association. After we educate buyers, we actively follow-up with them, and help them put all the pieces in place–escrow, insurance, financing–so they can buy your aircraft.

Reason #5: Buyers are more relaxed with brokers than owners.

Most buyers don’t want to get bogged down in the minutiae and sentimentality that can be attached to an item for sale, especially an expensive item like aircraft. Serious buyers prefer a smooth process that not only helps them decide on what type of aircraft they need, but also has professionals who help them through to the finish line.

Let Us Partner with You

The most important question you can ask yourself is, how much is your time worth and where would that time be best spent? We have no doubts, your time is worth a lot more than broker fees, plus, the earning potential you have elsewhere is well beyond the net profit you’ll make selling your aircraft.

At J.A. Air Center, you can put our expertise and experience to work for you. All you have to do is make a phone call and we can take care of the rest. Contact us today and let’s get started!