We help you ask the right questions and get verifiable answers.
CAVU Clarity is your Market Intelligence Secret Weapon!
Questions Aircraft Owners Often Have.
Whether you are seasoned or simply considering aircraft ownership, the consequences of not asking the correct questions can be HUGE! Clients employ CAVU discreetly and/or overtly to assist in asking the correct questions or verify and validate what you are being told.
Brokers
Brokers – Are the percentages I’m being charged higher than average? What is customary in this segment?
The primary concerns for owners using a broker for the acquisition of an aircraft revolve around integrity, expertise, and maximizing value. Due to the fact that the industry is largely unregulated, the quality and ethical standards of brokers can vary widely. Verifying a broker’s integrity and ethics, and that there are no conflicts of interest, misrepresentations, unauthorized dealings, hidden fees and schemes is crucial. Confirming their expertise and performance and identifying any inexperience which could lead to low quality of service also are imparative. All of these could lead to incorrect valuations and thereby cost you money.
There are always legal and financial risk when making an investment in such a mobile, high valued asset. Failure to handle documentation properly, escrow and deposit issues and tax consequences can make the whole experience untenable.
Insurance
Insurance – Are my deductables and coverage correct to protect my family? Am I paying too much? Should I self-insure on motors or hull?
For owners purchasing a new airplane, common insurance concerns include the high cost, navigating complex coverage options, and ensuring proper coverage for their specific use and qualifications.
Financing
High costs and liquidity requirements:
Borrowers must prepare for a substantial down payment, typically 15–20% of the aircraft’s value. In addition, many lenders require borrowers to have sufficient liquid assets to cover 12 to 18 months of aircraft payments and operating costs, such as fuel, hangar fees, and maintenance.
Rising interest rates: Fluctuations in market conditions, such as rising interest rates set by the Federal Reserve, directly increase the cost of borrowing and monthly payments.
Variable loan terms: The length of the loan term can vary significantly based on the aircraft’s age and type. Older or more specialized aircraft may have stricter terms, requiring a higher down payment or offering a shorter loan duration.
Opaque fees and costs: Borrowers worry about hidden or unexpected fees, including origination fees, legal review costs, and prepayment penalties. A lack of transparency in the fee structure can make it difficult to determine the true cost of the loan
Pilots
Pilots – Do my pilots really possess the skills I need? Are my pay rates appropriate? My pilot seems to put their needs first.
Owning a private aircraft means owners must assume the responsibilities of operating a professional flight department, and hiring pilots presents significant safety, legal, and personal concerns.
Safety and qualifications. Verifying experience, recurrent training and performance in training. Regularory compliance, Mental and physical issues.
On the legal and financial risk side, there is liability, insurance coverage and employment structure.
Professionalism and personal fit. Discretion and confidentiality, judgment and demeanor, adaptability and customer service and cultural fit.
Maintenance
Maintenance – What’s really required and are these fees accurate?
Common concerns involve the high and unpredictable costs of parts, labor, and unexpected repairs. The complexity and frequency of maintenance schedules, which depend on the aircraft’s age, flight hours, and the manufacturer’s requirements all require intimate knowledge of the fleet and your aircraft choice. Finding qualified, trustworthy maintenance providers with a reduced talent pool can be a challenge as well. Owners also worry about regulatory compliance, ensuring their aircraft meets aviation safety standards, and the potential for operational disruption when mainteanance keeps their aircraft grounded.
Hangars
CAVU works with the foremost expert on acquiring, leasing, or building hangars. We are fortunate to have a partnership with Ryan Cox and his company Air Space.
Secret Weapon
CAVU raises your aviation intelligence. Some hire us to verify what they’re being told. Many ask that we guide and advocate for them through their project. Some simply want to understand specifics such as pilot pay expectations and insurance or international ops. Through decades of building relationships globally, we have or can obtain the most pertinent information.
When it comes to Acquisition & Sales
Tell us about you. Together we can mitigate apprehension and arrive at the solution you envisioned. We have helped many owners acquire and/or sell their aircraft. Using another broker? No problem. We often are discreetly employed to verify what you are being told is accurate. We scale to fit your needs. We handle one off projects as well as remain on retainer.
Owner's Representative
There are an endless number of decisions, personnel and vendors to work with and through. We relieve that burden by acting as the single point of contact for an owner regarding budgets, labor, contracts and vendors. We help select the best fit for your managment needs, then we handle communications, freeing you to focus on what’s important to you.
Kevin and his team helped me onboard the aircraft of my dreams (a Falcon 7X). In addition, ensured I was trained and fit and in compliance to enjoy flying it as both a pilot and an owner. Kevin helped ensure I was not taken advantage of during those processes. In addition, ensured I had the proper flight crew to meet my mission.
We appreciate CAVU for helping us find the proper registry for our international operations. We needed flexibility that our country would not allow. Now we are in full compliance, running a safe flight department and giving the owners the options they need. My confidence was raised by the clarity Kevin provided. Some calls I had him handle but others I felt strong enough to field myself. Well done.