What next? When I first started in this business in the early 80’s I was told “If you don’t like change, then aviation is not the place for you.” Our industry has certainly lived up to that saying. So what is next? If I knew for sure, I would not be writing articles and trying…
DetailsThe fear of the Coronavirus has disrupted airline travel and corporate travel to and from infected areas. It has turned the stock market on its ear. World markets are suffering from everything from supply chain issues to goods manufactured in areas like China. What does it mean for private aviation? This is a good time to…
DetailsHow an Airplane deal should work Recently I had the opportunity to sell a client’s Hawker since he had upgraded to a larger aircraft. We had a willing seller and a willing buyer and the transaction went very smooth. What makes this sale noteworthy was that the end result was a fair and smooth pre purchase…
DetailsAs published in BusinessAir Magazine issue 12. The aircraft market is more than likely the closest market to the theoretical Adam Smith “Invisible Hand” theory and basis for free market thought. For those who have forgotten Economics 101, a quick refresher is in order. Basically, the concept is that in a free market, that supply…
DetailsThe saying “Buyer beware” is as old as there are people buying and selling. Unfortunately, in the aviation industry, the stakes can be high. It is important to understand the term “fiduciary responsibility”. In simple terms, the person you hire has a fiduciary responsibility to only represent your best interests in the transaction. They cannot…
DetailsCrystal Ball for 2019 First a little pat on the back, our 2018 projections were fairly accurate. We are seeing interest in new models and customers upgrading to these new models. There is less late model high quality aircraft for sale. Prices have stabilized or in some markets shown slight increases. What is the outlook…
DetailsPresented by Mike McCracken at the Corporate Jet Investor Conference Miami 2018 In the standard economic model, markets should perform rationally. The assumption is that buyers and sellers act rationally. In those cases where the market gets out of synch, the economic theory is they will quickly get back to equality. All of us in…
DetailsAs Published in BusinessAir Magazine The current used jet market has reached the stage where a relatively high percentage are in the throw away jet category. In general terms, it happens around age 30+-. Let me explain. This age of aircraft is in the functional obsolescence stage of their life. The deterioration in their value…
DetailsAs published in BusinessAir Magazine issue 10 2018 If you are keeping up with the market trends you are becoming aware of a market dynamic we have not experienced since before 2008. In most markets, you can’t just wake up and decide to purchase an aircraft and assume you can get one in service within…
DetailsWhen I moved to Florida in 1985 we learned a bunch about the state. Things like we only thought summers up in the mid-west were hot and humid, how to outrun an alligator, and continuing the alligator theme, they have been here for a million years, you are in their backyard not the other way…
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