Aircraft Fleet Valuations
Consistent, independent valuations across multiple aircraft for portfolio reporting, financing, transactions, and planning.
One Method Across Every Aircraft in the Fleet
When several aircraft are valued by different appraisers at different times, the numbers are hard to compare. A fleet valuation applies one consistent method and date of value across the whole portfolio, so lenders, auditors, buyers, and boards can rely on the totals.
Western Aviation values fleets of business jets, turboprops, piston aircraft, and helicopters for lenders, lessors, operators, corporations, and family offices.
When a Fleet Valuation Makes Sense
- Portfolio reviews for lenders and lessors
- Financial reporting and audits
- Fleet financing or refinancing
- Mergers, acquisitions, and fleet sales
- Insurance schedules for multiple aircraft
- Budgeting and replacement planning
Who Relies on a Fleet Valuation
Lenders and lessors use fleet valuations to monitor the aircraft securing their loans and leases, and to report collateral coverage across a portfolio.
Corporate flight departments use them for financial reporting, insurance schedules, and decisions about which aircraft to keep.
Charter and commercial operators use them when financing, refinancing, or selling part of a fleet, and when partners or investors need a current view of asset value.
Family offices and private owners with several aircraft use them for estate planning, insurance, and a consistent view of what they own.
Auditors and accountants rely on them when aircraft values must be supported in financial statements.
Combining Desktop and Onsite Fleet Appraisals
Every aircraft in a fleet valuation receives a certified appraisal. Fleet valuations often mix desktop and onsite appraisals to balance cost and detail:
| Certified appraisal option | How it fits this service |
|---|---|
| Desktop fleet appraisal | Efficient valuations across the full portfolio |
| Onsite fleet appraisal | In-person inspection of the highest-value aircraft or those with known issues |
How a Fleet Valuation Works
Step 1: Set the Scope.
We agree on the aircraft to include, the type of value needed, the date of value, and who will rely on the report.
Step 2: Gather the Data.
You send a fleet list with registrations, serial numbers, times, and maintenance status. We request records where they will affect value.
Step 3: Choose Desktop or Onsite for Each Aircraft.
We recommend which aircraft need an onsite inspection, and which can be valued from records, based on value, condition, and known issues.
Step 4: Value Each Aircraft the Same Way.
Every aircraft is valued with one method and one date of value, so the totals can be compared and relied on.
Step 5: Deliver the Report.
You receive a certified appraisal for each aircraft and a portfolio summary that highlights the aircraft with issues affecting value.
Mixed Fleets of Airplanes and Helicopters
Many portfolios combine business jets, turboprops, piston aircraft, and helicopters. Each type has its own value drivers: engine programs and inspection cycles on jets, overhaul status on turboprops and pistons, and dynamic component times and mission configuration on helicopters.
Because David Fisher appraises both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, one appraiser applies one consistent approach across the whole fleet, rather than splitting it between specialists who may work from different assumptions.
What a Fleet Valuation Includes
- Value for each aircraft, using one method and date of value
- Portfolio summary
- Notes on aircraft with maintenance events, damage history, or records issues that affect value
- Residual value forecasts, if requested
A fleet valuation tells you what your aircraft are worth today. If you’re deciding which aircraft to keep, replace, or add, see Fleet Strategy in our Aviation Advisory services.
Your Appraiser: David Fisher, ASA
David Fisher is an ASA Senior Accredited Appraiser who appraises both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. As an FAA A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization, he reviews component status and records with a maintenance professional’s eye. He served as a U.S. Air Force crew chief, later worked as a branch manager for GE Capital Aircraft Financing, and has bought, sold, brokered, and appraised aircraft for more than 30 years, across more than 300 transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information do you need for a fleet valuation?
A fleet list with each aircraft’s make, model, serial number, registration, total times, and maintenance status, plus how the values will be used. We will request records for any aircraft where they are likely to affect value.
Can you value aircraft based in different locations or countries?
Yes. Western Aviation serves clients in the U.S. and internationally. Desktop appraisals can be prepared wherever the aircraft are based, and onsite inspections can be arranged for the aircraft that need them.
Can a fleet valuation include residual value forecasts?
Yes. Lenders, lessors, and fleet owners planning replacements often ask for a forecast of each aircraft’s value at a future date alongside its current value. The forecast states the assumptions it relies on, such as utilization and maintenance, so it can be updated as those change.
Can different aircraft types be valued together?
Yes. A fleet valuation can include jets, turboprops, piston aircraft, and helicopters in one portfolio.
Do you need to inspect every aircraft?
No. Many fleet valuations use desktop appraisals for most aircraft and onsite inspections for the highest-value aircraft or those with known issues.
Can you update a fleet valuation each year?
Yes. Annual or periodic updates keep portfolio values current for lenders, auditors, and insurers.
Need to Value a Fleet?
Tell us how many aircraft, what types, and how the values will be used. We respond within one business day.