96 AVBUYERMAGAZINE– July 2018 http://www.AVBUYER.com Aircraft Index see Page 129“When significant expenditure is due
it will affect the aircraft value.”
OPERATING MAINTENANCE
#3: Airframe Inspections
All aircraft will be subject to frequent airframe
inspections and, for larger cabin aircraft, the major
airframe inspections can easily exceed $1m. It is
crucial that you know when the next major
inspection is due as part of the due diligence
before making an offer on an aircraft. When
significant expenditure is due it will affect the
aircraft value.
Other considerations include the time it will take
to do the inspections. Unlike engines that can be
removed and replaced with loaners, the aircraft is
not available while major airframe inspections are
in progress and many owners will make plans to
charter or contract supplemental lift during this
time. This is another item to add to the budget.
Ongoing airworthiness directives (ADs) and
service bulletins (SBs) that may be issued for your
aircraft can also impact the budget. You must
check for these before purchasing a used aircraft. It
is always wise to ask if there is an airframe
maintenance program enrollment and if it covers
any of these costs.#4: Unscheduled Maintenance
Unexpected maintenance events will happen no
matter what type of airc raft you choose and can be
a difficult expense to calculate over the lifecycle of
the aircraft. Your advisor or trusted consultant will
give you a budget estimate based on factors
including make, model, and time on the engines
and airframe.
Keep in mind that the OEM’s warranties do not
cover all the unexpected costly repairs that may be
needed in the first 5–10 years of a business jet’slife. Once again, enro lling the aircraft onto a
maintenance program could be the best way to
budget for such expenses.#5: Regulatory Requirements
In addition to current airworthiness regulatory
requirements, there are future mandates that come
along and require upgrades or changes to the
aircraft that will impact your budget.
In the US, many aircraft on the market are not
yet compliant with the new Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) or Future Air
Navigation System (FANS) 1/A requirements.
As we approach the January 1, 2020 deadline,
slots at maintenance shops are filling up fast and,
just like any other supply and demand cycle, the
cost of getting this work done rises with each
passing week. It is undoubtedly a good idea to
look for an aircraft that is already compliant, or at
least budget for a premium cost for any aircraft
that is not yet compliant.
Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) are usually
required for aftermarket equipment upgrades and
these associated costs should also be accounted
for, including the acceptability of existing STCs
between different aircraft. When an STC is not
acceptable to the new register the solution can be
very costly in terms of both time and money.In Summary
There are countless items to consider when
purchasing an aircraft but with the right tools and
expertise, you can ensure the right aircraft is
purchased for your mission profile and budget.
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