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Published byMatthew Leonard Modified over 9 years ago
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Tom Haines, Editor-in-Chief AOPA Senior Vice President, Media
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Agenda 1. Realities of ownership Reality check Mission assessment 2. Finding the right ride 3. The purchase process 4. Q&A
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Assumptions You’re not an owner You’ve never been an owner You’re evaluating whether aircraft ownership is right for you.
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Top three most important things to consider when buying an airplane: 1. Mission 2. Mission 3. Mission
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Reality check Are you a good candidate for aircraft ownership? Investments: Time Money Emotions.
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Reality check Time Time to fly regularly Time to manage a potentially large asset Think of it as owning a second home Money You’ll need plenty, and a “gotcha” fund Emotional fortitude Joy and guilt.
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Reality check Did I scare anyone away yet?
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Mission assessment Be realistic about expected missions Buy an airplane that meets 80 percent of your missions Do you really have the time to make weekend trips twice a month? How many seats do you need? How long will most of your missions be? Most GA flights are less than 500 nm.
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Mission assessment Be realistic about costs Can you afford this particular type of aircraft Financing Maintenance Fuel Hangar/tiedown State sales tax Are you insurable and at what price and with what limitations? Are you disciplined enough to have a contingency fund and to build reserves?.
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Let’s go shopping! Where to look for the right ride Manufacturer AOPA Online Classifieds Trade-a-Plane (trade-a-plane.com) Aircraft Shopper Online (ASO.com) Local FBO Local broker, dealer eBay.com.
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Shopping Things to consider Age—airframe and engine Features and capabilities of a model can vary dramatically over the years. A 2005 Cessna 182 is vastly different than a 1965 model Hours—airframe and engine Average number reported in price guides.
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Shopping Things to consider Installed equipment What meets your mission? Always cheaper to buy someone else’s work, but it won’t exactly match your needs Airworthiness directives (ADs) Repetitive One-time.
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Shopping Things to consider Damage history When, where, how was it repaired Logbooks intact and complete? Paint and interior Location.
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Shopping What’s it worth? Perform an aircraft valuation online through Vref at AOPA Online Other sources: National Aircraft Appraisers Association (NAAA) Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest Remember your mission A “bargain” twin will eat you alive in operating costs— especially if it doesn’t fit your mission.
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Your ride... 1986 Cessna 182 Average number of airframe hours—3,000 hours Mid-time engine—750 hours Upgrade: Garmin 430/530, XM datalink weather, 3-blade prop, S-Tec 50 autopilot, 7 paint & interior Vref says $105,400 wholesale; $128,300 retail. You’re a good negotiator and get it for $110,000.
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Costs Financing Get pre-qualified at www.aopa.org/loans Loan Term 5-20 years (depending upon loan size) No pre-payment penalty Simple Interest Rate (fixed for the life of the loan) Rates range from 5.69%-12.75% Maximum Loan to Value – 85% AOPA works with AIC Title Services Provide the Title Search Obtain Bill of Sale from Seller Register plane with the FAA
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Costs Insurance Hull—repairs or replaces the airplane Liability—protects your assets Two types of Liability coverage Combined Single Limit (aka “Smooth”) coverage and Sublimits Deductible or no? Get a quote to help determine overall costs We’ll assume $110k hull, IFR pilot w/ 800 hours, $1million/$100k/seat--$1,100 per year premium.
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Fixed vs. Variable costs Fixed costs don’t change based on hours flown Finance charge (recouped with resale) Insurance costs Hangar/tiedown fees Annual Inspection Variable (or Direct) costs change based on hours flown Fuel costs Oil costs Reserves Routine maintenance.
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Fixed Costs Annual Inspection$1,300Annually$1,300 Insurance$1,100Annually $1,100 Tiedown/Hangar$390Monthly$4,680 Total Fixed $7,080 Fixed per hour 120 hours$59 Fixed Costs: 1986 Cessna 182
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Variable Costs Fuel consumption14 gph$5.39/gal$75.47 Oil consumption0.20 qts$5.40/qt$1.08 Oil changes$17550 hours$2.92 Engine/Airframe maintenanceper hour$18 Avionics maintenance per hour$5 Engine, Avionics Reserveper hour$13 Total variable costs per hour 120 hours$115 Variable Costs: 1986 Cessna 182
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Total Costs--120 hours per year Fixed$59 Variable$115 Total$174 Fixed, Variable/Year$20,880 Loan ($653/mon.)*$7,836 Total per year$28,716 *Partially recouped at resale. Assumes $110,000 aircraft, 15% down, 5.69% interest for 20 years. Total Costs: 1986 Cessna 182
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Forms of Aircraft Ownership Individually owned (or in a corporation or LLC) Partnership (Visit the new AOPA Partnership Program at Booth 653; aopa.org/aircraftpartnership/) Fractional Ownership Flying Club
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Check out the airplane Review the paperwork Logbooks complete and intact Airworthiness certificate Equipment list Weight and balance Placards FAA-approved flight manual or owner’s handbook Thoroughly inspect it yourself Fly it Try all of the avionics, autopilot, intercom.
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Check out the airplane Get a thorough pre-purchase survey by an A&P A “thorough” pre-purchase survey is equivalent to an annual inspection Airplane should be in compliance with all ADs Thousands of dollars for a complex single.
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The art of the deal Negotiate your best deal Contingent upon passing the pre-purchase survey Contingent upon clear title.
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Purchase documents Title search $200 to $400 for most airplanes A clear title assures that when you own it you actually own it Consider title insurance Chain of ownership Accident/incident report 337 report.
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Purchase documents Sales contract Outlines terms and conditions Specifies any warranties—usually none Specifies equipment on the aircraft Specifies aircraft location and delivery location See AOPA Online for a fill-in-the-blank sample.
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Purchase documents Escrow Service can help facilitate a closing Not always necessary Helpful if buyer, seller, and airplane are not co- located Helpful if liens must be paid off to clear a title.
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Purchase documents Bill of Sale—submit to FAA Aircraft Registration—submit to FAA Retain pink copy as temporary registration Do not travel internationally on a pink slip Make sure your insurance is effective on purchase date FCC Radio Station License—for international flying only File with International Registry for aircraft with an engine over 550 horsepower.
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Maximizing flight time Business flying—what’s your company policy and reimbursement? Charitable flying Angel Flight Young Eagles Leaseback—A flight school or FBOs pays you for flight time on your aircraft.
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Resources Don’t go it alone! Type clubs AOPA AOPA Online. http://www.aopa.org/members/pic/ownership/
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Other AOPA Summit Forums 2 p.m. Friday—What You Should Know About Aging Aircraft, Room 23 3:30 p.m. Friday—How Successful Business People Rely on General Aviation, Room 23 10 a.m. Saturday—Tax Benefits of Aircraft Ownership, Room 23.
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Enjoy! Don’t be daunted by the purchase process Dreams and lifelong memories await you as an aircraft owner!
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Questions? thomas.haines@aopa.org
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