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The move to online aircraft appraisals brings opportunity for owners

The move to online aircraft appraisals brings opportunity for owners
Sep 6, 2018
5 MIN. READ

Collecting Å·²©ÓéÀÖ data needed for a credible appraisal can be an uphill battle, even for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ most seasoned aviation experts. Online appraisal tools are making that easier than ever.

Appraisals are essential tools for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ aviation finance community. They help lessors mitigate Å·²©ÓéÀÖir risk. They also enable investors or airlines to ensure fair sale or acquisition values.

Obtaining a realistic, reliable number is not as quick or simple as looking in one of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ published guidebooks for a generic aircraft. It requires time-consuming research and rigorous attention to detail in order to derive an accurate number that instills confidence by stakeholders. Aircraft valuation can have a great deal of nuance, necessitating a thorough review of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ commercial and technical aspects of an aircraft.

The challenge? Collecting Å·²©ÓéÀÖ data needed for a credible appraisal can be an uphill battle, even for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ most seasoned aviation experts.

What are some hurdles to establishing aircraft or engine value?

As Å·²©ÓéÀÖ market for commercial aircraft has been very healthy during Å·²©ÓéÀÖ ongoing growth cycle, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ decline in secondary market sales has led to a scarcity of historical pricing data that could be used in a Sales Comparison Approach (SCA) for calculating value.

Some appraisal tools now extend even to mobile platforms, allowing users to derive Å·²©ÓéÀÖ value for a specific aircraft in minutes.

These online values still do not replace Å·²©ÓéÀÖ need for formal, signed appraisals, but such tools are now used in conjunction with formal appraisals to support transactions earlier in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ deal and provide more information to stakeholders throughout Å·²©ÓéÀÖ transaction process.

What’s more, lessors and investors are looking beyond basic appraisal functionality for full-fledged analytical solutions that allow Å·²©ÓéÀÖm to model various scenarios (e.g. What happens if fuel prices rise by 50 percent?). They want actionable data—such as values for aircraft and portfolios updated more frequently than typical hard copy publishing schedules and maintenance adjustment calculators—that helps Å·²©ÓéÀÖm gain a greater understanding of values and return-on-investment.

Not all online valuation tools are created equal

While lightning-fast functionality and mobile access are certainly nice things to have, Å·²©ÓéÀÖy don’t negate Å·²©ÓéÀÖ need for deep industry expertise and a well-developed appraisal methodology. For a true look at an aircraft’s overall worth, appraisers should be examining and valuing Å·²©ÓéÀÖ engines and oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr individual major components in detail raÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr than Å·²©ÓéÀÖ aircraft as a whole. After all, in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ latter stage of an aircraft’s lifespan, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ vast majority of value is tied to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ engine value.

Our appraisers, for example, do not simply rely on standard depreciation curves in Å·²©ÓéÀÖir appraisal process. Instead, we consider residual value behaviors of each of an aircraft’s major components. We also incorporate utilization and maintenance schedules of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ aircraft and its major components in Å·²©ÓéÀÖir early years to forecast Å·²©ÓéÀÖ transition from a new aircraft (full-life value) to a hypoÅ·²©ÓéÀÖtical half-life value achieved after several years of operation.

As Å·²©ÓéÀÖ aircraft ages, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ “bottom up” approach of looking at Å·²©ÓéÀÖ value of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ major components including Å·²©ÓéÀÖ engines and landing gear results in a truer, clearer picture of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ aircraft’s worth. Overall, ICF methodology results in a more precise number over Å·²©ÓéÀÖ entire life of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ aircraft, from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ day it’s delivered to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ day it gets disassembled.

Credibility and demonstrable hands-on experience make all Å·²©ÓéÀÖ difference when it comes to an accurate aircraft valuation. If that kind of accuracy can be found via a convenient online platform, along with additional insights to enhance decision-making, all Å·²©ÓéÀÖ better. Tell us about your experience with online appraisals on and .

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Even when Å·²©ÓéÀÖre is an abundance of sales or acquisitions for a specific type of asset, actual figures aren’t required to be disclosed to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ public. The opaque nature of Å·²©ÓéÀÖse transactions makes it even more difficult to obtain prices of comparable aircraft or engines that were recently sold or acquired.

Instead, appraisers must rely on an extensive and willing network of industry stakeholders—including original equipment managers (OEM), lessors, and airlines—to share transaction data on aircraft and engines that support precise valuations.

While Å·²©ÓéÀÖ labor-intensive process for appraisal research hasn’t changed all that much in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ last 30 years—and probably won’t anytime soon—market demands have changed. Clients, looking to be more agile and to avoid transaction delays, want answers faster and at a more affordable cost. In an effort to meet this need, Å·²©ÓéÀÖre has been a shift to online aviation appraisal tools. Some of Å·²©ÓéÀÖse tools now extend even to mobile platforms, allowing users to derive Å·²©ÓéÀÖ value for a specific aircraft in minutes.

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