The questions to ask before you sign anything
The short diligence checklist most buyers move too fast to run.
4 min read
Most private aviation regret is written into the contract at signing and discovered in the air months later. The programs are not designed to deceive — they are designed to sell. A short list of questions, answered in writing before you commit, prevents nearly all of it.
On access and availability
- What is the guaranteed call-out window, and how many peak days are excluded?
- What happens when the guaranteed aircraft is unavailable — what is the recovery policy?
- Are there hour caps, blackout dates, or seasonal restrictions?
On cost and escalation
- Is the full fee schedule in writing, including repositioning, minimums, and surcharges?
- How and how often can the hourly rate or management fee escalate?
- Do unused hours or deposits expire, and are they refundable?
On the operator and the exit
- Who actually operates the aircraft, and under what certificate and safety ratings?
- What are the exit, remarketing, or termination terms — and what do they cost?
- What is the total, all-in cost of a representative trip you actually fly?
The takeaway
None of these questions is aggressive; every one is standard for a decision of this size. If a program cannot answer them plainly and in writing, that is itself the answer. Get the terms on paper, compare them like for like, and sign only when the economics survive daylight.
Educational, and deliberately general. Your situation turns on specifics — routes, hours, and terms — which is what an engagement is for.