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Top 4 things to know before getting your aircraft appraised
Lenders, insurers, asset managers and owners rely on aircraft appraisers each day, but there are a lot of misconceptions regarding the ins-and-outs of both the appraisal process and what it means to be an “appraiser”. This new Flight Level blog series, “Appraisal 101” will highlight some things we wish all our clients knew and give some insider scoop on what to watch out for when you hire your next appraiser.
Shedding light on aircraft appraisers
Appraiser credentials are, by far, the most common source of confusion in our industry. Here are the facts you need to know before approaching an “expert” for an appraisal:
1. There are ZERO consumer protections.
Most consumers are familiar with the appraisers from real property transactions, where there are a slew of regulatory consumer protections in place. Outside of real property appraisers, anyone can call themselves an appraiser of something - aircraft, art, surfboards, anything. This creates an environment for confusion, because it forces the end-user of appraisal services to determine the underlying credibility of the appraiser. Fortunately, there are organizations (which I will describe later) that accredit appraisers to perform aircraft appraisals. If you are not using an accredited appraiser you are at high risk of receiving a unreliable report.
2. Dealmakers May Not Be Impartial
Any number of aircraft dealers/brokers will provide you with a written appraisal. These parties are not inherently impartial since they are vying to be a member of the transaction and are concerned with either selling you on a number than makes you happy, or one that gets you to engage them as a broker. Accredited appraisers are held to ethical standards and must disclose any previous, current or prospective interest in the property. Maintaining impartiality is one of the key ethical requirements of an appraiser and an added layer of security with your valuation.
3. Someone Must Enforce Ethics & Best Practices
Appraisers who are accredited by a professional organization must uphold the standards of that organization or they will lose their credential. This is important. Non-accredited “appraisers” are not required to conform with any regulations or practices, nor is there a channel to report and remove unethical appraisers. Flight Level’s appraisers are both accredited with the ASA which strictly enforces compliance with the USPAP development/reporting guidelines, society ethics/practices and requires a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education in the appraiser’s field each year.
4. There are three organizations that accredit appraisers
While there are other organizations that claim to offer credentials the 3 that are professionally recognized are the: American Society of Appraisers (ASA), International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT), and the newly formed (2018) Professional Aircraft Appraisal Organization (PAAO). There are not any other organizations in the United States that provide education, testing, and credentials to aircraft appraisers. We will be comparing these organizations further in our next article.
Next time you or your lender are in need of an appraisal, seek out an appraiser who is impartial, conforms to a standard for ethical conduct and is accredited by an appraisal organization. Of course, if you have further questions or concerns about appraisals, Flight Level’s team of ASA accredited appraisers is here to help.
Author:
Cameron Tipton, ASA
co-founder/accredited senior appraiser
Flight level partners
Fly To: Galveston Island
For many, aviation is about freedom. Whether it’s for work or for play, general aviation grants unparalleled opportunities to access locales that would otherwise be out of reach. In this “Fly To:” blog we discuss one of Texas’ most underrated beach-towns, Galveston. Whether your ideal getaway is beach-bumming, thrill seeking, street strolling, museum hopping, or just kicking it with the locals, there is something for everyone to get into the Island lifestyle!
A non-traditional Beach town
Galveston, Texas
Established: 1839
Population: 50,180
Elevation: 7ft
Closest Major City: Houston
When to Go
Galveston is a great place to visit year round with plenty of beach-going in the spring to fall as well as events like Dickens on the Strand that brings visitors in the winter.
Galveston’s Rich history
It’s hard to believe without visiting Galveston that it was once the largest city in Texas, the “Wall Street of the South”, the “Ellis Island of the West”, a safe haven for pirates, and the Sin City of the South. One may be tempted to dismiss the monumental importance the city had on the growth of Texas and our nation, but when you walk the streets of the sleepy Victorian city its historic grandeur is palpable. The ghosts and stories of its past are evident on every corner, in the mansions of sheer magnitude and beauty basking in the ocean air and the pylons that are the last remnants of where celebrities would flock to gamble and play. Located only an hour’s drive from Houston and with its own private airport, the iconic and unmistakable beach city awaits you to explore its waters, streets and past.
Founding an Icon 1816 - 1900
Pirates
The island of Galveston was named Galvez or Galveztown after Bernardo de Gálvez by the Spanish explorer Jose De Evia who mapped the island in 1785. Originally the island was inhabited by the Karankawa and Akokisa tribes until the arrival of a certain French pirate by the name of Louis-Michel Aury in 1816 who established a pirate colony on the island with the aid of another famous pirate Jean Laffite. Laffite remained on the island as the head of the “Compeche” and used it as a base during his many raids on merchant ships in Central American ports until the United States Navy forced his leave in 1821. He took with him all his loot and burnt the pirate fortress down as he left the island for good.
Established City
In 1939, after the purchase of thousands of acres of land on the island by Michel Menard and others, the Republic of Texas adopted Galveston and incorporated it. Over the next sixty years the city experienced astronomical growth it became the largest port city in Texas, a center for trade, the immigration center for the West and had incredible innovations. In Texas, it was the first to have lights, the first telephones, the first bakery, the first medical college, the first opera house and the second largest economy in the nation. Being the largest city in Texas and the economic hub of the south in the 1800s certainly had its perks. Presidents, celebrities, businessmen and vacationers were drawn to the island city for business opportunities, the access to beach and luxuries like the iconic Beach Hotel. The city continued to prosper and operate peacefully until one September day… the great hurricane of 1900.
Recovery, Gambling, & Renaissance 1900 - 2018
Galveston would never be the same after the 1900 storm which still is the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States, claiming over 8,000 lives. Recovery efforts included raising the city and all the houses by 17ft and creating a seawall to aid storm surges in future hurricanes. Despite their attempts the city would never regain its former glory, many moved due to the trauma of losing friends and family, others pursued business upstream in Houston. In 1909 Houston dredged the Houston Ship Channel, putting to rest any hope of the city ever being a commercial trade hub again. However, in the 1920’s the city had a resurgence in tourism and locals Sam and Rosario Maceo began their bootlegging empire. The two brothers were incremental during the prohibition in providing booze and gambling to wealthy Houstonians such as Howard Hughes and other out-of-towners. They established several clubs over the next thirty years, the most famous being the Balinese Room where Sinatra would come to play. The city was bustling once again and was donned, in an Italian mafia fashion, as the Sin City of the South until 1957 when the Texas Rangers had successful raids on the clubs.
Galveston today is in a sort of renaissance. Efforts from the locals, historians, the city and investors like Tilman Fertitta have brought a renewed confidence in the city. Beautification projects have been taken to revitalize beaches, parks, streets and historic neighborhoods. New businesses are flourishing off of increased cruise ship traffic out of the Galveston port and the increasing number of students at UTMB and A&M Galveston.
Flying into Galveston
Scholes International Airport (GLS)
On-site 24-hour ARFF station
No landing fees
Air traffic control services 6 am to 6 pm daily
24-hour passenger and pilot lounge
Outside of Class B airspace
24-hour weather service
Navigational Aids: GPS, ILS, RNAV, VOR/DME, VORTAC, ASOS
Two 6,000' x 150' runways to accommodate a wide variety of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters
Airport History
In the 1920’s Robert (Bob) Scholes and Fen Waters (among others) were aviation enthusiasts offering private rides and aerobatic demonstrations in Galveston before the issuance of pilot licenses. At the time they were utilizing East beach as a runway until the city forced them to cease. Fen was offered a piece of land by a friend and local farmer which became Galveston Municipal Airport in 1931.
For a brief time in 1938 it was renamed after a Galveston local Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan until World War II when it was designated a United States Army Air Corps base under the name of “Galveston Army Air Field”. The Army Corps of Engineers then designed and built three 6,000ft strips to accommodate military aircraft operations on the site. In January of 1943 the base was officially activated as the 46th bombardment group, flying the Douglas A-20 Havoc and later Lockheed Venturas, pursuing antisubmarine missions in the Gulf of Mexico. The fields primary use was for the 407th Fighter-Bomber Group, a replacement crew gunnery training group, with over 2500 enlisted men onsite. The base was officially deactivated on November 15, 1945 and the airports ownership returned to the city who renamed it Scholes Field, after the local aviation pioneer Bob Scholes.
What to do in Galveston
Swimming & Surfing
Surfing
Most people don’t associate surfing with Texas, rather cowboy boots, ranching, oil and Walker Texas ranger, but our state is full of great places to “tie up your horse” and surf. Galveston boasts some of the best surfing in the state and an experience that you can’t get anywhere else .
Jamaica Beach
A little south of the busy beaches by the famous “Pleasure Pier with faster waves, deeper water and a good chance for tubes.
Surfside
A short drive south from Galveston and Jamaica Beach, Surfside is probably the best spot to surf on the Texas Gulf. A lot of wave variety here, which can get real wild when storms are in. Long jettys that offer a great chance to jump onto some peelers. Great for long-boards and short-boards with locals offering lessons and rentals on the beach.
Ship Channel - Tanker Surfing
Surfing wakes is not an uncommon thing, but surfing waves off of cargo ships coming into port definitely is. Captain James Fullbright pioneered the sport in Galveston in the 1990’s with his surf crew and offers charters to advance long boarders only. The location that you surf at depends on the bays traffic, size and shape of the ship, and of course skill level. What you can expect, chasing after ships, paddling hard to catch the wake, possibly surfing in oyster reefs, being joined by dolphin pods and riding for minutes at a time in pure bliss.
Is the water brown?
For most Texans, the ideal vacation spot on the Gulf Coast is and always will be South Padre Island or Mustang Beach near Corpus Christi and for good reasons including white sand beaches, blue water and some of the best waves on the coast. Comparatively Galveston has been a little lackluster when it comes to the beach and color of the water, which for almost a century has remained a certain shade of brown due to currents bringing sediment from the Trinity, Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers. Contrary to what many may believe the water at Galveston is actually cleaner than Corpus Christi. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality takes samples from Texas beaches 40 times a year Corpus Christi beaches are more unsafe to swim with unsafe levels of bacteria around 30-50% of the time tested. Yes, the water in Galveston might be a little green or brown, but when rain levels are low and the currents are right it can be blue.
What to see in Galveston
Victorian Era Architecture
The 1900 hurricane and the disaster it laid on the city pushed the economic development upward to Galveston’s sister city Houston. Although thousands of original structures were lost to time and water, Galveston still has an impressive amount of Victorian style homes. If you are a history buff or lover of Victorian architecture then you walk around the Historic East End and Avenue O which boast some of the most Iconic and extravagant homes in the state.
Museums
Where to stay in Galveston
There are a lot of great spots to get rest after a long day of flying or swimming in Galveston, however in the spirit of an Victorian era beach holiday we narrowed it down to our top three hotels.
Where to eat in Galveston
Fly To: New Orleans
For many, aviation is about freedom. Whether its for work or for play, general aviation grants unparalleled opportunities to access locales that would otherwise be out of reach. In our new blog series “Fly To”, we will show you some of the places where we like to fly and pass along a few ideas of what to do when you get there. Second stop, New Orleans!
NOLA
“Laissez les bon temps rouler”
Established: 1718
Population of Parish: 393,292
Metro Population: 1,262,888
Elevation: -6.5 to 20ft
When to Go
New Orleans is an easy going city where you can find plenty of delicious food, strong drinks, live music, and a laid back attitude year round. Picking the opportune time to visit truly depends on what kind of NOLA trip you want.
Spring - Jazz Fest to Mardis Gras
From March to the end of May is the busiest time of year, for good reason. Spring is the best time to visit the city weather-wise where you can expect highs in the upper 70s and lows in the 50s.
Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, takes over the town from March 1 - 6 in 2019. The celebration of the year and the busiest time, Mardi Gras is an exciting time to visit. Parades and Krewes fill the streets with colorful feathers, costumes and floats. Contrary to many beliefs, while festivities may get out of hand, most of the parades and events around town are family friendly.
French Quarter Festival, goes down in the town from April 11 - 14. Go to the french quarter where there are nearly two dozen stages set up to hear jazz, Latin, r&b, zydeco, New Orleans funk, swing and rock. Food from the finest establishments around the city fill Jackson Square and sprawls into the neighboring streets. And of course catch the “Worlds Largest Jazz Brunch” at Woldenberg Riverfront Park, the festivals signature event.
Jazz Fest April 25 - May 5 . The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly. With music on multiple stages, delicious Louisiana cuisine in two large food areas, and crafts artisans from the region and around the world.
Summer - Sweat Some, Save Alot
The Summer months from June to August boasts some of the hottest and muggiest days with temperatures in the 90’s and humidity thick enough to cut. However if you are planning on being indoors most the time and want to avoid the crowds and hiked hotel rates, than this might be the best time for you. Many of the luxury hotels offer slashed deals and restaurants that are often difficult to find reservations are wide open.
During the entire month of August, travelers will also find that many restaurants like Commander’s Palace also offer “COOLinary” prix-fixe deals which are multi-course lunch specials for $20 or less and dinner for $39 or less.
Fall - Calm and Cool before the storm
In fall you can expect more pleasant weather with daily highs in the mid 80s to low 70s and thinner crowds. Although hurricane season in New Orleans poses a threat from June through November, however severe storms are rare.
Winter -
Winter is a sweet spot to avoid crowds, score solid deals on flights and hotels, and see the city decorated in holiday cheer. The winter months of December and January boast daily highs averaging in the low 60s and daily lows in the 40s.
Crawfish Season?
Although there is not an official crawfish season as there can be with shrimp or crab, from March until June you will find the mudbugs seasoned, sauteed, boiled and fried from joint to joint across town. The city has an entire event dedicated to the mudbugs The Crawfish Festival goes on from May 3-5, boasting over 30 musicians, dancing, and crawfish cooked up any way imaginable.
If you are looking for some crawfish in the off season hunt down the closest Ice House and there’s bound to be a boil going.
Where to Land
New Orleans Lakefront Airport
Open 24-hour for VFR and VOR GPS
No landing fees
US Customs available 24-hour
3 runways with maximum length of 6880ft
Airport History
Lakefront Airport was built in the 1930's in true Art Deco Fasion and at the time was considered and architectural masterpiece. It was the first major airport in the region, and served proudly as a general aviation airport to this day. Inside the terminal building, travelers would find an array Art Deco pieces, featuring murals by artist Xavier Gonzalez and friezes by Enrique R. Alferez.
What to do in the big easy?
Museums & Places of Interest
Where to stay in New Orleans
Neighborhoods
The French Quarter
SETTLED: 1718
VIBE: Romantic, Jazzy and Mysterious
KNOWN FOR: Bohemian charm, Jackson Square history, Steamboat cruises, Bourbon Street Bars and fun, Old-world architecture
The Garden District
SETTLED: 1833
VIBE: Manicured, Prim and Proper, Charming
KNOWN FOR: Grand mansions, Magazine Street shopping, Audubon Park and Zoo, the St. Charles Streetcar
Marginy & Bywater
SETTLED: 1806
VIBE: Hipster, Colorful, and laid-back
KNOWN FOR: Marigny Opera House, Colorful Creole cottages, Washington Square Park, and Frenchmen Street music scene
Warehouse District
SETTLED: 19th century-industrial area
VIBE: Artsy, sophisticated and trendy
KNOWN FOR: James Beard Award-Winning Chefs, Julia Street or Gallery Row, National World War II Museum, Mardi Gras World, the Convention Center
Hotels
Fly or be Flown?
Businesses sometimes look to its employees/managers/owners to pilot their business aircraft. While this is often an attractive solution, there are special considerations to make before deciding not to hire a professional pilot.
a candid look at piloting your business aircraft
For some of our clients, the choice to purchase a business aircraft is based entirely on their ability to fly it themselves. The freedom of going straight from the boardroom to the airport to fly home after a long day is a huge advantage to aircraft owners, but choosing to fly yourself may not always be the best option.
Embraer Phenom 100
You May Not be Fit to Fly
During flight training your instructor will spend considerable time reviewing what it means to be mentally fit for every flight. Traveling for business can be very stressful. That big pitch you’re going to make after you land, upcoming year-end deadlines, a conversation you need to have with an employee when you get back… all of this can become consuming - is your head really wrapped around everything going on in the cockpit? Maybe, maybe not. These thresholds are different for everyone - but being able to stop yourself and realize you’re unfit to fly is an important part of being a safe pilot.
Cessna Turbo Stationair
Sacred Work Time
For many private flyers, aircraft ownership is about gaining back lost time. Using your new found time to fly an airplane may not be attractive. Sitting in the back catching up on work in relative solitude is often cited as a leading factor in owner satisfaction.
Cirrus Vision Jet, SF50
You’re Not Interested in a Second Career
At Flight Level, we may be one of the biggest advocates of private aviation - we understand the value it adds and encourage nearly everyone we encounter to give it a shot. We also understand that becoming a pilot is a major time commitment, a resource that business-people are often lacking. In an earlier blog we talked about how insurers rule the skies and often limit the type of aircraft you can fly - despite holding the appropriate certificate (albeit, for good reasons). If you have your eye on a shiny Pilatus when you start flight school, you may find it could be years of flying experience before you sit in the left seat.
despite all of this, many owner-pilots would never go back to a passenger seat
For any one negative there are dozens of positives. Flying yourself offers the ultimate flexibility and can be a substantial cost-saver over hiring or contracting professional pilots. Ultimately, individual circumstances should dictate your decision to fly, or be flown, but going in with an understanding of the big picture will keep from encountering costly disappointments.
Cameron Tipton, ASA
Fly To: Fredericksburg
For many, aviation is about freedom. Whether its for work or for play, general aviation grants unparalleled opportunities to access locales that would otherwise be out of reach. In our new blog series “Fly To”, we will show you some of the places where we like to fly and pass along a few ideas of what to do when you get there. First stop, Fredericksburg.
A Texas Holiday Destination
Fredericksburg, Texas
By Photolitherland Chris Litherland
Established: 1846
Population: 10,530
Elevation: 1,700 FT
Closest Major City: San Antonio, TX
Spend the Holiday Season in Fredericksburg
There is something about visiting a small town in the Texas Hill Country in the winter that just seems right. Maybe its that old world charm - the remnant impact of the German settlers that called Fredericksburg home in the early 1800’s. Or maybe its the liberal application of Christmas lights (virtually any place within 20 yards of an electric outlet). Fredericksburg is simply a great place to spend the holidays.
Where to Land
T82 Boasts its own hotel and diner, an AVGeeks dream
T82 - Gillespie County Airport
Gillespie County Airport has made the short-list of many aviation enthusiasts by offering a truly unique airport experience. The Hangar Hotel and its accompanied diner have a retro vibe and allow guests an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing day of plane-watching.
FBO Open 8 AM - 6 PM Daily
24/7 Access to FBO Facilities
5,000 X 75 FT Runway
Rental Cars Available
AVGAS & Jet A Available
RNAV & VOR Approaches
What to do in fredericksburg
Best Places to Eat in Fredericksburg
Best Places to Drink in Fredericksburg
Best Places to Stay in Fredericksburg
Depreciate Your Used Aircraft 100% in the First Year
Businesses can take advantage of 100% depreciation on their new or used aircraft in the first year thanks to the 2017 tax bill. However, before you purchase, there a number of considerations that must take place to avoid costly pitfalls and back-taxes.
Changes to the tax code in 2017 allow businesses to accelerate the book depreciation of their aircraft purchase to the first year.
This is what you need to know
WHAT CHANGED?
The passage of the 2017 “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” changed the first-year depreciation limit from 50% to 100%
Previously, Bonus Depreciation exclusively applied to new aircraft, now it also applies to used aircraft
1031 Exchanges (A.K.A. Like-Kind) are no longer allowed for Personal Property
WHO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BONUS DEPRECIATION?
This is more complicated than one might think and there are a number of pitfalls that must be considered.
Bonus Depreciation is exclusively for business aircraft and for business use. That means that more than 50% of the aircraft’s usage falls under business-use (defining “business-use” requires a strict view of the tax code).
The aircraft must be eligible for the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS). A major qualificant of which is that the aircraft cannot be predominately used outside of the United States.
The future use of the aircraft must continue to be predominately for business use, failure of this could result in the IRS recapturing the depreciation in later years.
Regardless of when a purchase order is signed, the aircraft must be placed into service before January 1, 2023. That may seem like a long time but growing manufacturer backlog could easily have delivery dates 4-5 years down the line (I’m looking at you, PC-24).
IS IT ENOUGH?
Ultimately, these types of regulatory incentives are aimed at providing a meaningful boost to the economy. So how has it done? As of posting, the aircraft sales market has made a huge resurgence with values slowly rising and sellers gaining the upper-hand as inventory levels fall across all aircraft types. Bonus Depreciation could surely be described as a factor in this type of growth, coupled with the overall economic success of the United States over the past few years.
I believe the greatest outcome of the Bonus Depreciation program is the number of first-time buyers that have entered the world of aircraft ownership. For many of our clients, Bonus Depreciation was not only a factor but the primary driver to purchase today. This program has allowed countless small businesses to enter private aviation because the economics are simply more attractive than ever before. As with any piece of legislation, I always caution my clients that these types of programs could be rolled-back, so these provisions may not last until 2023.
SPEAK TO AN EXPERT
We advise all of our clients to seek aviation-specific tax and legal support throughout their ownership cycle and when it comes to using Bonus Depreciation it is an absolute necessity. Your personal CPA may be the best around, but groups that specialize in aviation simply understand the pitfalls associated with these large write-offs. Flight Level Partners has built a trusted network of experts that we would happily refer to, without hesitation.
Cameron Tipton, ASA
FAA vs. Insurance Showdown. Who is in charge of your flying freedom?
Who really is in charge of the planes you’re allowed to fly, the FAA or the insurance companies? Even after a pilot earns all the necessary certificates and ratings your insurer may close the door on your perfect plane. We take a look at who really has the “final say” in aircraft selection and why the insurers say “no” to perfectly good pilots.
So, You Want to Fly Cool Airplanes?
earning a pilot certificate is only the beginning…
After a pilot endures the rigors of earning their Private Pilot Certificate the idea of moving into faster, more capable airplanes begins to look attractive. So, a pilot might find him/herself looking to add additional qualifications to their certificate. That traditionally starts by adding an instrument rating, followed by a multi-engine rating, and some scattered endorsements that allow you to fly high-performance, complex, or high-altitude aircraft.
So, after months of flying various aircraft types you have now satisfied the legal requirements to fly virtually any non-jet general aviation aircraft under 12,500 lbs (jets and all aircraft above that weight require aircraft-specific ratings known as “type-ratings"). In the eyes of the FAA, you are as good as golden. HOWEVER, while the FAA is often thought of as the gate keeper to safe skies, your aircraft insurer may have much more to say about your qualifications.
Insurers Rule the Skies
For pilots moving up the proverbial ladder of ownership, they will often find themselves answering to the insurance underwriters more than the FAA. Think you’re moving up from flying a light piston trainer to something like a Beechcraft Bonanza? Your insurance company may place some shockingly large hurdles in your path, sometimes requiring substantial “time-in-type” training with an instructor. This can quickly drive up the price tag of your new favorite plane. The insurance underwriters are in business to make money and to do that, it is in their best interest to make sure the pilots flying their insured aircraft try their best NOT to crash them. So over time these insurance companies have worked alongside the FAA to investigate what type of pilot crashes certain types of airplanes.
The Cirrus SR-22 is a prime example. Cirrus presented the aviation world with a remarkable new airplane equipped with a whole-aircraft parachute. This was built to be the safest aircraft on the market. The SR-22 actually began its aviation tenure in 2001 with one of the poorest safety records of any general aviation aircraft - you were 3 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident in a Cirrus against the rest of the general aviation fleet. Today, your odds of being involved in a fatal accident in a Cirrus are actually less than that of the general aviation fleet (and that is with 7 times MORE Cirrus flying than in 2001). So what changed? Cirrus developed a standardized instruction course (a first of its kind for a piston single) and the insurance companies adopted it as a cornerstone requirement to fly an SR-22.
Safety by Statistics
It’s easy to become frustrated by the hoops our respective insurers require us to jump through before signing us off to fly - in fact, I have heard of many pilots that choose not to insure their aircraft so they are not required to go through a process they deem trivial. But, as frustrating as it may be, the insurance companies are working with raw data. Sure, those numbers may not give the most holistic view of an individual pilot, but, in reality they are built to reduce the odds of bad outcomes - and that is something we all want.
All of this is really telling a greater story about the “big picture” of buying (leasing, renting, co-owning) a new airplane. Just because you are rated to fly something big and fast, doesn’t necessarily mean that will be an insurable activity without some safety-increasing “hoops”. So, when you’re ready to shop for your shiny new airplane, be sure to ring your favorite insurer and ask what they might require from you. It’s an easy phone call and at the end of the day, they want to make you a safer pilot.
Author:
Cameron Tipton, ASA
Co-Founder/Director of Brokerage
Flight Level Partners
The 6 Strangest Business Aircraft Ever Built
In the spirit of Halloween we are taking some time to examine some of the strangest planes ever created. Just because a plane looks strange doesn’t necessarily mean it comes from the “upside down”.
Beechcraft Starship
The Beechcraft Starship was introduced to the market in 1983 and was destined to be an innovator, featuring the first glass cockpit in any business aircraft and an exceptionally “unique” design. There are 5 remaining Starships in the US that still hold FAA registration.
Piaggio Avanti
The Piaggio Avanti was introduced in 1990 with a similar design to the Beechcraft Starship. The Italian-built aircraft bears the nickname, “Catfish of the skies” because of its unique canard design. The Avanti has made a name for itself by offering jet speeds and superior onboard comfort at the operating cost of a turboprop. The Avanti is still alive-and-well, it is in its third design iteration dubbed “EVO” and can be picked up for $7.5 million USD new.
Rutan Boomerang
The Rutan Boomerang was built to reduce the adverse effects associated with losing one of the two engines on a twin-engine aircraft. The design results are interesting to say the least. The design never left the FAA certification process and only 1 aircraft was ever built.
AdamJet A700
Adam Aircraft Industries (AAI) first flew the A700 twin-jet in 2003 as a counterpart to the A500 twin-engine piston developed around the same time. Ultimately, the development of both aircraft met their ultimate fate after the economic crisis of 2008 leading to the bankruptcy of Adam Aircraft.
Edgley Optica
The first flight of the Edgley Optica was in 1979 and it was designed as a low-cost alternative to the helicopter for observational work. The UK built aircraft is powered by a lycoming flat 6 cylinder that drives a ducted fan behind the cockpit. 22 aircraft were delivered by Edgley and there is now hope that production will begin again in 2019.
Gee Bee R-2 Super Sportster
The Gee Bee is by far the oldest of the bunch (and not exactly a business aircraft), it was produced in 1932 as a racing aircraft identical to the original Gee Bee R-1. The aircraft had a reputation for being incredibly difficult to control and was inherently dangerous. The R-2 and R-1 were pieced together after a crash of the R-1. The aircraft was eventually sold to a private owner who added larger fuel tanks making the aircraft impossible to control, he crashed after takeoff and was killed - it was never rebuilt.