You may have already asked yourself the question “What is the lifespan of an aircraft or a private jet? In this article, AEROAFFAIRES presents the importance of the age of a private jet and the factors that determine its lifespan.
What is the lifespan of a private jet?
Unlike the automotive sector, where the age of the aircraft is determined by the number of kilometres flown, in aviation many factors come into play. In general, an aircraft is designed to make 100,000 take-offs and landings, although this obviously depends on the model of the aircraft. However, there are other important external factors to consider.
How do you determine the age of an aircraft?
The number of hours flown is an important factor, although it does not determine the age of an aircraft. Indeed, a private jet may be new and have flown longer than an older private jet. It all depends on the frequency of flights and the destinations flown. For example, private and commercial aircraft are designed to live up to 100,000 cycles, and each flight is considered a cycle if it is pressurised. Over time, the parts of the aircraft become damaged, mainly due to the erosion of the metal. However, regular technical checks and maintenance operations can extend the life of the jet. The case of private jets is special because they fly less than commercial aircraft. A long-haul aircraft performs an average of only 20,000 cycles.
Choosing a new or used aircraft?
The cost of an aircraft is an important factor in the purchase decision process. It is important to consider not only the purchase cost but also all operating costs. The purchase is an investment that is projected over several years. Operating costs have the greatest impact on the total cost of an aircraft, the two main criteria being fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
An older aircraft will consume more fuel than a new aircraft using a recent electronic fuel injection engine system. Also, the older the aircraft, the higher the maintenance costs as the aircraft will be more complex and prone to corrosion.
In addition to the operating costs mentioned above, there are other costs such as insurance and storage of the aircraft. The purchase price of an aircraft includes a multitude of costs that depend on how often you use your aircraft.
Between buying a new aircraft, buying a second-hand aircraft and leasing, there are several options.
Buying an older private jet has its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of a used private jet
- Lower purchase price
- Hindsight in operation
- Pilots are used to the aircraft because they are already familiar with it.
The disadvantages of second hand aircraft
- Safety is sometimes missing: parachute, oxygen mask etc
- More complex to maintain
- Greater noise pollution due to the age of the engines
- Spare parts are more scarce
- Obsolescence of materials and possible undetected damage such as corrosion.
The advantages of a new private jet
- Modern equipment for greater safety
- More economical engines
- Lower maintenance costs
- Everything is new, there is no loss of value
The disadvantages of a new private jet
- More complicated to finance
- Higher purchase price
- Higher operating costs
A third solution is available to you, leasing. This makes it easier to build a financing case and maintenance costs are included in the price. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on how often you fly and what you need. However, the age of the aircraft is important, but there is one essential point: safety. It should be the first criterion in your choice of aircraft, no matter what you will be using it for.
Business aviation is subject to very strict regulations imposed by the civil aviation authorities, mainly due to the notion of public transport. The maintenance of aircraft and even the training of crews are essential to obtain public transport certification. Maintenance, repairs and periodic inspections must be carried out by centres approved by the manufacturer.
At AEROAFFAIRES, we offer private jet charters. We offer our clients essential advice on the choice of aircraft and airports when planning your private flight. Contact our team of aviation experts on +330144099182 to book your private jet. You can also contact us by email: charter@aeroaffaires.fr or make a free estimate with our online quote.
