M A
“Everything should look fresh
and up-to-date. Soft goods and
furnishings should invite the
principal to visualize himself
or herself using the aircraft.”
“Only after the representative has examined the
technical condition of the aircraft and records and is
satisfied will the principal typically come to assess the
interior and overall cosmetic condition and make the
final decision.”
In preparing for the principal to come and view the
aircraft, it will need to be cleaned. “The exterior should
be spotless, and the flight deck and cabin should be
deep-cleaned, including the galley, lavatories, carpet
and sidewalls,” Laps concludes.
“Everything should look fresh and up-to-date. Soft
goods and furnishings should invite the principal to
visualize himself or herself using the aircraft.”Age Before Beauty?
Iain Houseman of Elit’Avia, meanwhile, believes the
interior will be a lot more important if the aircraft is
older. “If it’s a newer aircraft, then the interior is usually
still in pretty good shape and, in that case, it comes
down to how appealing it looks to the buyer,” he notes.
“If the interior has been designed in a way that
appeals to a limited group of people (as an example,
red leather seats or a carbon fibre interior instead of
veneer) that can be a deal-breaker, because buyers will
have to spend time and money to change it.
“For older aircraft, the interior condition can be
important for the same reasons – if the interior has
recently been redone or is in good condition then the
aircraft is more appealing, because it doesn’t need
significant rework,” Houseman observes.
“Additionally, there is a need to understand the
current technology systems and the proximity of major
inspections for the aircraft that will allow upgrades to be
incorporated and save considerable costs. For example,
we estimated a major inspection for an owner’s aircraft
of $1.1m and got the cost down to just under $800k –
and managed to include some key avionics upgrades,
internal improvements and soundproofing
enhancement, which proved very useful in getting the
aircraft ready for sale.”In Summary...
Upgrading and refurbishing an aircraft is a significant
investment that can strongly enhance your experience
while on board. Nevertheless, when planning for the
investment, it’s important to have a realistic view of the
value a refurbishment creates.
A well-executed cabin refit should not only meet your
immediate needs in terms of space, aesthetics, utility
and connectivity. It should appeal to the broadest
possible range of potential buyers when the time comes
to move the aircraft on.
In ‘Part 2’ we’ll explore the current trends in cabin
design as owners seek to maximize utility, comfort and
style, gaining input from renowned interior designer
Celia Sawyer, while also considering the importance of
maintaining paperwork and ensuring the design is
properly certificated to enhance the chance of selling
your aircraft at the best price. Stay tuned....
More information from http://www.arcandco.com ❙MAINTENANCE AVBUYER.com104 Vol 23 Issue 8 2019 AVBUYERMAGAZINE http://www.AVBUYER.comMaintenance 1 Aug.qxp_Finance 16/07/2019 12:00 Page 4