January 22, 2014
What does “Pre-buy” mean?
Written by Dan Dunn, former Jetcraft Vice President Sales, USA
A used aircraft sale will usually include a pre-purchase inspection to verify that the condition of the aircraft meets the representations made by the seller. This inspection is often referred to as a "Pre-Buy." An industry standard Pre-Buy inspection requires selecting an appropriate service facility that is approved to perform work and inspections by the manufacturer. It may be a center owned by the manufacturer itself, or a mutually agreeable facility.
The scope of a pre-purchase inspection is determined on several factors, namely age of aircraft and warranty status, recent or due inspections, and comfort level with the transaction in general. A Pre-Buy inspection is traditionally paid for by the buyer and may also include a test flight of the aircraft.
Many buyers will review the technical status of the aircraft and may negotiate with the seller to include scheduled maintenance that is near due in the ins...