The SkyMachines SkyValue™ appraisal: The most detailed
aircraft appraisal available

A SkyMachines SkyValue appraisal picks up where other appraisals and mechanic pre-purchase inspections leave off. We start by contracting with an appraiser who is a member of the National Aircraft Appraisers Association. (No matter where the airplane is located, there is almost always an NAAA appraiser nearby.) In addition to the appraiser's physical inspection of the aircraft and its logbooks by, we direct him or her to also:

• Take photographs of the aircraft.
• Fly the airplane to make sure all systems work and that the flight controls are properly rigged (optional).
• Test the avionics (optional).
• Verify the presence and completeness of the aircraft documents, including the airworthiness certificate, owners registration, equipment list and weight and balance data, and the Pilots Operating Handbook. 
• Research the Airworthiness Directive compliance history.

After the NAAA appraiser delivers his or her appraisal report on the aircraft to SkyMachines (usually within 7-10 days), SkyMachines first verifies that the information contained in the report meets our rigid quality standards (over half the appraisals we receive require corrections).  We then work to arrive at a "Corrected Fair Market Value" (CFMV) for the specific aircraft. We do this by:

• Comparing the NAAA appraised value with the values reported in the other sources: Vref Aircraft Value Reference, Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest. (The Bluebook is used by more brokers, dealers, insurance companies, tax agencies, and lenders than all of the other sources combined, so any appraisal which doesn't include valuation information from the Bluebook isn't really complete.)
• Checking up to 20 sources of current aircraft for-sale listings to find "competing" comparable aircraft currently on the market to verify the valuation data provided in the four value data sources.

We add our corrections to the NAAA appraised value to determine the  CFMV for the airplane in today's market. Only by doing this extra due diligence can we give you an accurate valuation for the subject aircraft. (For example, sometimes, all four valuation data sources will show a value that is higher than the asking prices for similar aircraft on the market.)

We finish by adding the following items to our report:

• Any FAA/NTSB accident and incident reports for the aircraft to make certain the airplane hasn’t been involved in something that didn't  show in the logbooks.
• Any written pilot reports or reviews for the aircraft previously published in aviation consumer publications. 
• A detailed spec sheet and sample classified advertisement (for aircraft sellers)...all you need to do is fax it to your favorite publication.

No other appraisal service in the world goes to all of the trouble SkyMachines does to paint the most accurate and useful picture of the aircraft possible. Our reports typically contain 15-20 pages of information, including a Certificate of Appraisal showing the appraised value printed on parchment paper, bound together with an attractive cover. 

SkyMachines offers 2 valuation services:

• SkyValue Appraisal: The full, detailed NAAA inspection of the aircraft's condition and logbooks, plus the SkyMachines-specific items listed above. Typical SkyValue appraisals for single-engine aircraft cost about $450; multi-engine, turboprop, and jet aircraft appraisals cost $750-$2,000, depending on the age and complexity of the aircraft. If the aircraft is not located near an NAAA appraiser, reimbursement for the appraiser's modest travel expenses will be assessed. You can request a quote for a SkyValue aircraft appraisal here. 
   
• SkyCheck Value Estimate: A Value Estimate includes much of the same information as a SkyValue appraisal, except an actual NAAA appraiser's inspection of the aircraft and its records doesn't occur. Rather, we create the report in the SkyMachines offices, based on the unverified aircraft data you provide. (Thus, the most important aspect of the appraisal service is not performed, and prospective Buyers of the aircraft are less likely to be as trusting of the Seller who shows them a Value Estimate than one who can display a SkyValue Appraisal. For the same reason, a Value Estimate is not appropriate for banks, insurers, taxing authorities, or the  legal profession.) A SkyCheck Value Estimate is only $149 for single-engine piston aircraft, $189 for multi-engine piston aircraft, and $199 for turboprop aircraft. 

SkyMachines accepts checks (7-day hold) or payment by credit card or electronic funds transfer through the PayPal system: email payment to marc@skymachines.com.