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Buying an aircraft is not only exciting, it’s expensive. Even a 10-year-old Cessna can cost more than the average home. When buying a used aircraft, there are many things to consider, from the model to the maintenance log and more.

Thinking of all the items you need to look at on the aircraft itself, the future inspections, and what to budget for repairs and maintenance can be intimidating, but putting together a list of what to check can keep you from forgetting things. In addition, having an experienced buyer on your side is invaluable, not only for inspecting the aircraft, but in negotiations for the purchase.

What to Consider When Buying Used Aircraft

Expert Advice: Buying an aircraft is a huge investment and having an acquisition expert on your side to evaluate the plane, look at all the logs, and go over all the complexities that are a natural part of aircraft sales will save you a lot of headaches.

Look at All the Costs: There is a wide variance in price, dependent on the aircraft age, type, and amenities. Also, ask yourself, will you be flying enough to justify the expense? It’s suggested that 150 to 200 flight hours a year will make the expense of purchasing worth it.

Follow the 90 Percent Rule: Buy the size aircraft that will meet your needs 90 percent of the time, and for those times when you need a larger one, rent it. Overall, following that rule will save you from over-purchasing and that translates into dollars saved.

Test Fly: Just as you wouldn’t buy a car without driving it, don’t buy an aircraft without flying it, or having someone pilot it for you and you go along as a passenger. Make sure you fit in it well—that your legs have enough room, that your head does, too, and that you like the way the cabin is laid out.

Join Groups, Get Tips: Joining owners groups gives you access to a lot of people who can offer advice on everything from maintenance to advantages and disadvantages of different aircraft manufacturers and models.

Budget, Keep Calm: Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Keep in mind the costs you will have for maintenance, repair and inspections. Don’t get emotionally attached to a particular aircraft. Instead, look only at those within your budget and make your choice from that group.

Define Your Mission: There are many different aircraft to choose from and all have little differences that can make a big difference depending on the mission. Even though the aircraft may be in the same price range or aircraft class they may have much different useful load (carrying capacity), speeds, ranges or operating expenses. Having an experienced broker with a wide range of aircraft knowledge will help make the right choice.

Acquisition Services

“For over 30 years, I’ve been assisting local customers find the right aircraft,” says Scott Fank, Vice President, Sales, at J.A. Aero.  “From single engine piston aircraft to small jets the value of having an experienced and qualified staff is important…..we become your partner in the process.  We encourage curiosity, and pride ourselves on answering questions our clients may not know to ask.”

J.A. Aero recommends asking the following questions before buying an aircraft:

-Who performed the last annual inspection?
-Who performed the overhaul, and are they reputable?
-Are all A.D.’s complied with?
-Is it right time to buy an aircraft?
-What are all available aircraft options?
-Is there a damage history on the aircraft?
-Is the price appropriate?
-Are there any liens against the aircraft?
-What financing is available?

Choosing us as your acquisition consultant means you can relax, knowing we will get you all the answers you need in order to decide on the best aircraft for your purposes. This will, ultimately, get you the best value as well.

Safety. It’s the driving force behind every Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation, the reason for every requirement put upon aircraft owners, why pilots must put in thousands of hours of training, and the purpose of every aircraft maintenance crew.

When they talk about safety, regardless of who it is, the goal is the same—to keep passengers and the flight crew safe. Sometimes that talk is about penalties for failure to follow regulations, in hopes that the party being fined doesn’t make the same mistake a second time.

“Maintaining the highest levels of safety depends on operators closely following all applicable rules and regulations,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta while discussing a proposed $435,000 civil penalty against United Airlines last year. “Failing to do so can create unsafe conditions.”

Other times it’s the pilots-in-training, scheduling their hours, or the aircraft owners, checking to make sure all FAA required inspections are being done on time and scheduled well in advance. This is critical, because inspections are the cornerstone for safety, both in the air and on the ground, and an aircraft late in getting inspections performed will be grounded, something no one wants to see.

Who is Responsible for Inspections

According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, “Most owners and operators rely on maintenance facilities to perform required inspections and repairs along with ensuring all airworthiness directives, maintenance, and inspections are logged and signed off properly. Many owners and operators do not check for proper endorsements, which approve the aircraft for return to service and state that the aircraft is airworthy if a 100-hour or annual inspection was performed.”

Types of Inspections

Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Programs (CAMP) are created by plane owners and operators under FAA oversight. They specify routine and detailed inspections for an aircraft, which may also be called checks.

“Any CAMP schedule will have the detailed list of items that require inspection, the periodicity of these inspections, the exact method and technology for conduct of these inspections and the qualifications and occupational designations of the personnel authorized to carry out such inspections,” says BrightHub.com “These laid down procedures are to be strictly complied with by all operators who fly large commercial aircraft.”

A and B checks are routine inspections, while C and D are more detailed inspections.

Specifically, check A is conducted every 500-800 hours of flying and check B is done every three to six months, and takes up to three days to complete. Check C is conducted every 15 to 21 months and is an extensive process that takes as much as three weeks to complete.

Check D, according to BrightHub, “Is by far the most extensive and detailed check that is carried out on large aircraft, requiring about two months to be completed. These checks can be postponed under certain circumstances like operational necessity, but cannot be postponed beyond the stipulated time under any situation.”

Other Work Done by Aircraft Maintenance Crews

Of course, inspections, while critical to aircraft safety and maintaining FAA protocols, are not all that the aircraft maintenance crew does. They repair everything on an airplane, from wings to brakes and electrical systems. They also test parts, inspect completed work, ensure performance standards, and keep meticulous records of all work and inspections that have been done.

At J.A. Air Center, our teams of experienced and trained technicians provide service for almost every airframe and engine event, scheduled or unscheduled, on numerous models of Jet, Turboprop and Piston aircraft.

Contact us today to schedule your aircraft inspections or repair work.

In the Pursuit of Dreams – Dreams Take Flight

On August 27, 2018 Allen J. Maddock achieved something very special in his young aviation career – his first jet charter trip as a crew member.  The stuff of dreams does not just happen – it comes from hard work, education, training, dedication, and setting goals.

Allen started his pursuit of an aviation career by coming to work for JA Air Center as a line man fueling aircraft and   performing other line services in 2010. He had several great role models to get him started– his grandfather and father -both pilots with their own aircraft (a C210 and C150) .

Allen started his flight training with JA Flight Training in early 2011 and by June 2011 he had made his first solo flight.  He then went on to achieve the rest of his ratings with JA Flight Training while working the line at JA and going to Waubonsee Community College.  Allen received three Associate Degrees and completed his BS degree in Aviation Administration in May 2018 at Lewis University.

Full Circle  

The flight school that had trained Allen now hired him as a newly minted CFI in January 2017.  Allen was now the instructor leading his students to their dreams while still pursuing his aviation career.

Next Step into the Flight Levels

On the anniversary of his solo Allen was hired by Executive Express Aviation (JA Flight’s affiliate charter company) in June 2018 as a SIC in their Bravo jet and after enduring two weeks of training at Flight Safety International Allen passed his SIC type rating check ride.

As his career continues to grow Allen still teaches at the Part 141 flight school – JA Flight Training where he started and works the line at JA Flight Center as time allows.

We congratulate Allen on his accomplishments and look forward to watching him pursue his aviation dreams!

Congratulations to Alan Galle on passing his Instrument checkride!

Congratulations to Chris Hog on his first Solo!