Forensic Aerospace Associates

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AIRCRAFT APPRAISAL SERVICE

In addition to our other aviation consulting services, Forensic Aerospace Associates offers a complete aircraft appraisal service. Our affiliated consultants have a wide range of general aviation, commercial aviation, and air carrier experience. This experience is put to work for our clients to produce a complete and accurate assessment of the valuation of aviation assets.

Appraisals are available for any type of aircraft including:

single and multi-engine piston airplanes
turboprop airplanes
turbojet airplanes
transport category turboprop and turbojet airplanes
piston-engine rotorcraft
turbine-engine rotorcraft
turbojet and fanjet engine values

Our expertise in aviation safety gives us an insight to the true valuation of an aircraft. We do not conduct windshield or desktop appraisals. FAA appraisals are conducted from valuation, marketing and safety factors. An NTSB safety investigation checklist for the category and type aircraft is used to ensure that no part of the inspection is overlooked. Appraisals are conducted in accordance with the FAA Airworthiness Inspector's Handbook.

We examine the airframe, powerplant(s), propulsors, logbooks, maintenance history, damage history, airworthiness directives, service difficulty reports, service bulletins, supplemental type certificates for modifications, operational history, mishap frequency, pilot qualifications, and general reputation of the aircraft in the industry. We borescope turbine engines for signs of internal rotor or stator damage. Next we conduct a complete market survey and use industry standard evaluation software and published data from many sources to determine the aircraft's base value. Finally, we adjust the aircraft's fair market value in accordance with its history, maintenance status, safety aspects and intended operation. A complete and comprehensive report is generated which includes methodology, maintenance issues, safety concerns, and valuation.

Forensic Aerospace Associates conducts the following types of appraisals:

Full Appraisal

A full appraisal includes inspection of the aircraft and its maintenance records, research of airworthiness directives and mandatory and permissive service bulletins, verification of supplemental type certificates for modifications, damage history search, determination of maintenance status including life cycle and time-limited parts, suspected unapproved parts installation search, mishap frequency determination, determination of operational history, title search, and suitability for intended use. This inspection and research is solely for determining the overall condition of the aircraft and records to support the value opinions of the appraisal. It does not include the opening of inspection panels on the aircraft or a complete and comprehensive review of record archives. A Full Appraisal normally provides a value that includes adjustments from a mid-time, mid-life baseline to account for the actual maintenance status of the aircraft, damage history, and general reputation in the industry.

Comprehensive Appraisal

A Comprehensive Appraisal includes a complete and thorough examination of the aircraft and its records, including an annual maintenance inspection in accordance with the manufacturers detailed procedures. All inspection plates and accesses are removed and a licensed Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) affiliate conducts the inspection. If required, a complete powerplant inspection is performed, including inspection of the hot section of turbine engines. A report is generated which includes all elements of the Full Appraisal in addition to the inspection findings.

Financial and Marketing Appraisal

A Financial and Marketing Appraisal analyses the economic performance and investment potential of the aircraft within the commercial aviation industry. The methodology includes traditional business, life-cycle, and parametric analyses to calculate a complete economic investment picture for the aircraft. A Financial and Marketing Appraisal may be performed in conjunction with a Full or Comprehensive Appraisal. Our clients include:

Pre-purchase Interested Parties
Aircraft Owner's and Operators
Financial Institutions
Insurance Underwriters
Aircraft Brokers
Maintenance Facilities