How to buy or sell your plane: the complete guide

Introduction

Buying or selling an aircraft is a challenging operation that requires preparation, a clear strategy and a good understanding of the market. Whether you are a private pilot, flying club or enthusiast, this complete DealAircraft guide will accompany you step by step to:

• Understanding the aircraft purchasing process from A to Z
• Know how to sell effectively alone without a broker
• Discover how selling works with a broker
• Compare the two methods objectively
• Avoid common mistakes
• Optimize your ad to attract serious buyers
• Secure your transactions
• Save time and money

Part 1: How to Buy a Plane

Define your needs
Identify your objective: leisure, travel, training, club use. Determine the type of aircraft desired: single-engine, twin-engine, ULM or LSA, taking into account capacity, avionics and operating cost.

Establish a complete budget
Beyond the purchase price, plan for insurance (1.5 to 3 percent of the value of the aircraft per year), the cost of the hangar or parking (600 to 2,500 euros per year), annual maintenance (3,000 to 15,000 euros depending on the model), fuel (30 to 50 liters per hour) and any taxes or VAT if purchased outside the EU.

Find the device
Use DealAircraft to compare models, prices and identify planes that maintain their rating like the Cessna 172, DR400 or Cirrus SR22.

Check documents
Before any commitment, check the complete logbook, maintenance invoices, certificate of airworthiness and compliance with airworthiness directives.

Physical inspection
Check the wings, control surfaces and mountings for corrosion, the condition of the landing gear, upholstery, cockpit, avionics and engine.

Test flight
Take a test flight accompanied by an instructor or mechanic to observe how the aircraft behaves.

Negotiation
Use the items found during the inspection to adjust the price based on the market rating and any restoration costs.

Finalization
Write a clear sales contract, make a secure payment by bank transfer and transfer ownership to Civil Aviation.

SEO Optimization
If you share your feedback on DealAircraft, use titles like “Cirrus SR22 purchase review” or “Buying a used plane: practical advice” to increase your visibility.

Part 2: How to sell your plane alone without a broker

Preparing the plane
Clean the device, check that it is working properly and collect all the necessary documents such as the logbook and certificates.

Quality photos
Take exterior photos with natural light, lit cockpit, clean upholstery and enhancing details. Rename your files with relevant keywords, for example “piper-pa28-vente-france.jpg”.

Writing the ad
Include the exact model, year, engine and airframe hours, onboard avionics, service history, aircraft highlights and asking price.

Broadcast of the announcement
Publish on DealAircraft to reach qualified buyers and share on your social networks or with clubs for more visibility.

Lead management
Filter serious requests, offer calls or videoconferences before the test and require proof of insurance before any test flight.

Payment security
Choose payment by secure transfer before handing over the aircraft and sign a complete sales contract.

Part 3: How to Sell Through a Broker

Benefits
Saving time, access to a network of qualified buyers, better valuation of the aircraft, secure transactions.

Disadvantages
Commission of 3 to 8 percent on the sale and loss of direct control over the negotiations.

When to choose a broker
Ideal for selling a high-end aircraft, a quick sale or when you don't have time to manage leads.

Functioning
The broker estimates the value of the aircraft, puts it online on its channels, manages appointments, organizes tests, negotiates and takes care of administrative management.

Part 4: Comparison of selling alone vs. selling with a broker

If you want to optimize the price and control the process, sell alone through DealAircraft. If you are short on time or have a high-end plane to sell quickly, a broker may be a relevant option.

Conclusion

Buying or selling an airplane is an adventure that requires method and anticipation. With DealAircraft, you benefit from targeted visibility, a passionate audience and tools allowing you to sell or buy your aircraft efficiently, whether you choose to manage the sale alone or go through a broker.