How Does Your Process Work and How Long Does it Take?
Every situation is unique and requires specialized guidance and strategy customized to the specific circumstances. Thus, there is not a one-size fits all approach that applies to buying, maintaining or selling an airplane. We offer a free 20 minute coaching call to get the process started and determine the best approach for your situation. All other services are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis and paid for in advance.
We offer a wide range of services and solutions to help airplane buyers, owners, and operators. You can learn more about how our processes work for specific services by clicking here. We always have direct communication with our clients via email, phone, text, or video conference. Our typical turnaround time for coaching calls and customer communication less than 24 hours.
Are You Insured?
Yes, our company and employees carry General Liability, Property, and Professional Liability insurance.
Do You Travel to the Airplane?
Yes. Our team typically travels to the aircraft’s home airport or maintenance base of your selected aircraft. Traveling to the airplane reduces your liability and saves you the expense of relocating the airplane. We can travel nationwide to virtually every airport in the country from our base near Orlando, Florida.
What is a Prebuy Inspection and Why Do I Need One?
Despite the regulations governing pilots, aircraft operations, and maintenance, there are no regulations whatsoever governing aircraft transactions. This lack of accountability and oversight leaves a number of opportunities for things to go wrong. The number one cause for litigation in aircraft transactions in not performing an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted, third-party mechanic.
A pre-purchase inspection, also known as a prebuy, serves to assist a prospective buyer in making an informed buying decision. Similar to a home inspection, a prebuy will help you discover any issues before committing to the purchase. A prebuy inspection quickly determines the condition of the airplane as well as its true value by uncovering defects, paperwork discrepancies, maintenance issues, and airworthiness concerns that could make the airplane unsafe, illegal, or too costly to buy.
The prebuy also serves to represent the buyer and their interest during the purchase process to assist in the final negotiations and closing terms. Performing a prebuy is not only your right as an airplane buyer, but also your responsibility. Remember, once you purchase an airplane, all of its issues, defects, and discrepancies become your problem and the FAA holds you legally responsible.
The prebuy is simply meant to ensure the airplane’s condition is as represented in the listing and airworthy. Contrary to popular belief, the objective of the prebuy inspection is not kill an airplane deal, rather to make the deal better. The prebuy can help you negotiate the final sales terms or lower the price as well as have specific maintenance items fixed before taking delivery of your new airplane.
What Types of Aircraft Do You Perform Prebuy Inspections On?
Our team consists of profession pilots, instructors, and maintenance technicians with broad backgrounds including piston and turbine aircraft. We have the experience and tools to perform prebuys inspections on any FAA-Certified airplane including Cessna 182s, Beechcraft Barons, Twin Cessnas, King Airs, and Cessna Citation Jets.
Do You Perform Prebuys on Experimental Aircraft?
No. We perform prebuy inspections on aircraft certified under FAR Parts 23 and 25. For a prebuy inspection on an experimental aircraft, we recommend Base Leg Aviation located in Falcon Field (KFFC) in Georgia.
Can You Perform a Prebuy on a Turboprop or Jet?
Yes, our technicians and inspectors are factory-trained mechanics from leading business jet and turboprop manufacturers such as Cessna Citation, Beechcraft/King Air, Hawker, Pilatus, and Embraer. We have the knowledge and capability to perform and/or oversee prebuy surveys, flight tests, records audits, maintenance events, and more. We also have access to current manufacturer maintenance manuals, inspection requirements, and maintenance programs to ensure all mandatory inspections, maintenance events, and life-limited component replacement/overhaul intervals are complied with correctly and on-time.
Can You Convert the Prebuy into an Annual?
Many new owners want to “zero time” their airplane’s annual by converting the prebuy examination into a fresh annual inspection. The scope and detail of an annual inspection differs greatly from that of a prebuy. Additionally, performing an annual inspection normally falls outside the limits of a purchase agreement. However, our A&P/IAs can convert the pre-purchase inspection into an annual inspection in most cases when you become the new owner of the airplane following the closing.
Can the Owner’s Mechanic Do the Prebuy?
The prebuy inspection should be performed by an FAA-licensed Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, preferably with an inspection authorization. However, not all mechanics and inspectors are created equal. To avoid a conflict of interest, you should always select a mechanic that has absolutely no ties to the owner, the broker, and the airplane. It is in your best interest to hire a mechanic that is an independent third party specializing in aircraft transactions and pre-purchase inspections. Don’t hire someone that works for the seller — you need someone working for you, looking out for your best interest and representing you through the purchase process.
Can I Do an Annual Inspection Instead of a Prebuy?
While many prospective airplane owners think an annual will suffice for a prebuy, this simply isn't true. This is because annual inspections are not designed to find items that affect the overall value of the aircraft and cost of ownership. Annual inspections and prebuy evaluations have different objectives, utilize different techniques and yield different results.
Annual inspections are limited in scope and meant to find safety of flight issues - not cost of ownership issues. In most cases, annuals are organized by the seller, meaning there is no one there to represent you and your interests. Plus, the aircraft may have to be flown to a mechanic or maintenance facility which may cost you even more time and money. If you have an annual done in place of a prebuy, the annual must be finished to completion and meet all the requirements of FAR 43 Appendix D regardless of whether you decide the buy the aircraft - at your expense! Finally, the results of the annual inspection must be made in the aircraft's logbook(s) with an approval for return to service, and all airworthiness defects must be corrected.
On the other hand, a prebuy inspection is unlimited in scope and can be much more comprehensive. It is specifically tailored for the make and model aircraft, and customized to the specific airplane’s operational and maintenance history. In contrast with an annual inspection, you may discontinue a prebuy at any time should you decide to walk way from the airplane. Prebuys uncover different things — how has the aircraft been utilized? Where has it been stored? Who possesses the title? How frequently has the aircraft flown? Are there signs of damage or major repairs? Has the airplane ever made a gear up landing? Has the airplane ever been on fire? Is the equipment listed on the specifications actually installed in the airplane? Are all installed modifications/STCs approved and compatible? How does the airplane fly? Does the engine make full-rated power at altitude? The list goes on and on. As you can see, there are many things that an annual does not tell you. Even the most honest and forthcoming sellers may not have answers to these questions.
Can I Attend the Prebuy?
We always encourage our clients to visit the airplane and assist with the pre-purchase evaluation. Simply put, the more eyes the better. You can even bring your spouse, CFI or A&P along, too!
How Long Does It Take to Perform a Prebuy?
The time required to complete a prebuy depends on several variables including the make and model of the aircraft, the aircraft’s history and condition, the cooperation of the seller, and available facilities. The average turnaround time to complete a prebuy is 1—3 days.
Who Makes the Final Decision to Purchase the Airplane?
As the buyer, you make the final decision whether to move forward with purchasing the airplane. During the prebuy process, we provide you with the facts and analysis you need to make an informed buying decision such as aircraft condition, inspection status, engine health, systems and avionics functionality, and all other defects/discrepancies that affect airworthiness, aircraft value, and cost of ownership.
What Happens If I Decide to Walk Away from the Airplane?
One of the main benefits of performing a prebuy is you have the choice to walk away from the airplane at any point in the process. As long as you act within the terms of the purchase agreement, your deposit will be refunded and there will be no consequences for walking away. If you hire us to perform the prebuy, unused funds will be refunded back to you or can be applied toward your next airplane.
Can You Help Me Find the Right Airplane?
We can assist you in researching available aircraft and selecting candidate airplanes through our Buyer’s Assistance Program. Through this program, we can act as your Buyer’s Agent to assist you with all of the planning and logistics involved in making an offer, signing the contract, making deposits, and scheduling the prebuy.
Can You Help Me After I Buy the Airplane?
We can continue to help you even after the purchase through our Aircraft Owner Support programs as well as Maintenance On-Demand (MxOD) and Coaching programs.
Can You Help Me Sell My Airplane?
Yes. We can help you sell your airplane through our aircraft marketing and brokering programs.
What Makes Airplane Intel Different than Other Providers?
We are the only aircraft ownership firm in the country that can assist you through every phase of aircraft ownership. While your relationship with other providers stops at the transaction, our relationship with you is just beginning. We are also the only firm with nationwide service, traveling across the country and around the world to help you with buying, maintaining, and selling your airplane. In contrast with other companies, we specialize in aircraft ownership matters; we are hands-on pilots, instructors, maintenance technicians, and inspectors working in the field everyday. We believe in under-promising and over-delivering by going above industry standards to earn your trust and respect. We value quality over quantity, delivering personal service and always representing your interests with integrity and safety in mind. Lastly, we believe that trusting and investing in us will not only save you money in the long run, but also ensure your success as an airplane owner.