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• We obtain the aircraft’s FAA records: We order copies of all FAA 337 “Major Repair or Alteration” forms. The 337’s are supposed to be filed whenever major airframe repairs are made or whenever any devices which have been issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) have been installed. Obtaining the FAA 337’s typically costs us about $50.

• We order the AD's for every component.

• We have an NAAA-certified appraisal performed: If the FAA 337’s don’t disclose any previously undisclosed damage history, we have a NAAA-certified appraiser inspect, evaluate, and appraise the airplane. Only an NAAA-certified appraisal can give the accurate report of the aircraft’s value…simply looking it up in Vref or the Aircraft Bluebook won’t cut it. (Only NAAA appraisals are accepted by all major banks, insurance companies, and courts of law.) Unless the airplane is near us, the appraiser acts as our “eyes and ears” regarding the condition of the airplane.
       He or she inspects and rates the interior, exterior, glass, and tires to make sure the condition of the airplane is what the seller claims it is. We send copies of the FAA 337’s to the appraiser to compare with the owner’s records. He or she makes sure the logbooks are complete, that they don’t reflect any damage history not listed in the FAA 337’s, and that compliance with all applicable AD’s has been recorded. He or she also takes up to two dozen photos of the airplane, including every defect. Finally, the appraiser plugs in all the data regarding the airplane into the National Aircraft Appraisers Association appraisal software, which uses data from previous aircraft sales reported to banks to determine the fair market value of the airplane. The appraisal typically costs us about $450 for a single-engine airplane; $750 for a piston twin.

• We have it test flown: We ask the appraiser fly the airplane to make sure all the avionics and systems work and that it flies straight and true. The test flight typically costs us about $100.

• We get a fresh annual from an independent shop: We typically reject about half of the airplanes we have appraised because of problems with the condition or value of the aircraft turned up in the appraisal inspection or test flight. But, if we like the appraisal report, we then have the appraiser recommend a local IA mechanic to inspect the airplane. (So there is a truly independent evaluation, we use only mechanics or shops who have not previously worked on the airplane.)

• We have an FAA title search performed: We reject about half the airplanes we have inspected by mechanics because of problems they turn up with the condition of the aircraft. But, if no significant mechanical issues are discovered, we order an FAA title search from a title search company in Oklahoma City. This typically costs us $99.

• SkyBuy Buyer's Broker Service: If you're interested in buying an airplane but haven't found one yet, or if you've found one but need help with the purchase, bring in SkyMachines as your buyer's agent. But beware: We will only help you purchase an airplane that meets our tough standards and which we would be proud to own ourselves. 
  
  Our SkyBuy service works just like using a real estate agent: We will be your personal search service and buyer's agent in the transaction. We'll look out for your interests by representing only you in the transaction. We'll be your one point of contact throughout the sales process; your personal representative.

  SkyMachines will do your choice of either everything involved in buying the airplane, or only as much as you want us to. Typically, we spend about 20 hours assisting buyers of piston aircraft and 50 hours assisting buyers of turbine aircraft.

  SkyMachines will:

  • Make recommendations to you regarding which airplanes will best meet your needs
  • Provide you with professional reviews of the aircraft you're looking for
  • Upon request, provide you with operating cost estimates for the aircraft
  • Obtain all the pertinent information from the seller (we know the right questions to ask)
  • Analyze the aircraft logbooks for hidden maintenance and paperwork problems
  • Research the aircraft's damage and major airframe alteration histories
  • Obtain copies of and examine all FAA records on file
  • Advise you on the correct value of the aircraft using multiple aircraft valuation sources
  • Help you negotiate, or negotiate on your behalf, the purchase price and terms of the purchase using our years of experience
  • Provide and fill out the purchase agreement and other purchase paperwork
  • Arrange for and supervise test flights, an official appraisal, and mechanical inspections
  • Arrange for and supervise after-purchase improvements, repairs, and upgrades to the aircraft
  • Arrange for and supervise ferry flights and delivery to your location
  • Locate suitable financing and insurance
  • Arrange for and supervise escrow and file the FAA paperwork

  SkyBuy is ideal for people who:

  • Are not pilots, or
  • Are new to aviation, or
  • Live overseas and need to find an airplane to import from the USA, or
  • Are pilots but have never purchased an airplane before, or
  • Anyone who prefers to have an exclusive representative looking out for them when undertaking complex transactions

  Our SkyBuy service costs just $69 per hour, billed in 10-hour increments. We accept credit cards through the PayPal system or personal checks drawn on US banks. Our typical client needs us for 20 hours from the point after which a suitable piston airplane has been found until the purchase process is completed. We can provide you with excellent references from previous buyer clients.

  To get started, email us what you're looking for in an airplane, with as much detail as possible.
   

• DreamPlane Aircraft Modernization Program: Looking for the perfect airplane? With our DreamPlane program, you tell us what you want...we find it, buy it, refurbish it, and equip it like you want for less than half the cost of buying a new airplane! We even offer a 1-year warranty on the finished product.
   
• SkyAssist Seller Broker Service: With our famous SkyAssist program, SkyMachines helps aircraft owners sell their aircraft on the retail market for a low flat fee. If you buy one of the SkyAssist airplanes in our inventory, you'll get all of our SkyBuy services for free...the Seller pays the fee.

Under this program, the owner keeps the aircraft at their location while we market it for them and handle all the arrangements of the sale. We try to get the seller to follow all of the steps we take (described above) when buy an airplane for resale so that you won't have to rely on our presentation of the airplane.

As the buyer of one of our clients' airplanes, we will serve as an unbiased intermediary between you and the Seller, answering all your questions, arranging for an additional appraisal or mechanical inspection if you desire one, negotiating the purchase price, obtaining the title report (if not already provided by the seller), locating suitable financing and insurance, handling escrow, and filing the new registration paperwork with the FAA. Best of all, the Seller pays our fee; you pay only for any additional inspections, appraisals, title reports, and half the escrow fee. 

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