Flight range and routes
Focus on the routes you will use in 80% cases.
- Flights within Europe or Central Asia: required range up to 3–4 thousand km;
- Transatlantic flights: range from 7–10 thousand km and more.
Make sure the aircraft can land at the airports you need. Consider runway length, airfield altitude, and local noise restrictions. For short or difficult runways, the Pilatus PC-12 NGX or Citation XLS+ are good choices.
Budget
When calculating your budget, consider not only the price of the business jet but also the total cost of ownership. This includes:
- Fuel: the main operating expense;
- Technical maintenance (TM): scheduled work, replacement of spare parts;
- Insurance: mandatory item;
- Parking/hangar rental: depends on the home airport;
- Crew salaries: pilots, flight attendants;
- Continuing Airworthiness Programs: Fixed costs for servicing engines, avionics and other systems.
Estimated price range (new aircraft):
- Light class: $3 - 8 million;
- Middle class: $10 - 25 million;
- Long-haul class: from $40 million.
Financial recommendation: The aircraft's value should not exceed 5% of your total capital. To optimize your financial burden, consider leasing or financing.
Additional requirements
Decide in advance on the options that are important to you: the presence of a sleeping area, kitchen, and shower; interior noise level; internet quality (Ka/Ku-band standards); multimedia systems; and climate control quality.
Check before purchase
This is a mandatory step. Thoroughly research the history of the specific aircraft. Request and verify:
- Aircraft history. Check all previous owners, bases, and incidents;
- Logbooks. Must be complete and reflect the entire history of operation and maintenance;
- Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins. Verification of the completion of all mandatory and recommended work from the manufacturer;
- Continuing airworthiness programs. Clarification of the status and remaining funds for engine and auxiliary power unit (APU) maintenance programs;
- Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI). An independent, in-depth assessment conducted by service center specialists. It identifies hidden defects and allows for an objective assessment of the aircraft's actual condition.
A properly conducted due diligence is not only a guarantee of safety, but also a bargaining tool and a way to protect yourself from unexpected expenses in the future. Before When purchasing an aircraft, it is recommended to engage independent aviation experts and lawyers specializing in aviation law in the selection and inspection process. This will help maintain the high liquidity of your asset.
