Oddly enough, another reason that general aviation needs airplanes is due to the current owners not using them. For various reasons. Far too many are sitting in hangars, and haven’t been flown in years. Or left out on the tie downs to rot. I was having this conversation with another manager from a different FBO. The owners won’t sell, won’t fix them, or won’t lease them back. But will pay the storage fees.
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Years ago, I worked in operations at a regional airport in CT. I spent a lot of time on the ramp and knew which planes flew and which just sat. It was always the same 20% or so that flew while the others sat and oxidized. It never made any sense to me.
Very true. The financial aspect really doesn’t even enter into the equation for them.
I think that one of the factors affecting the disuse of these dormant airplanes may be in part attributable to the ageing of the pilots and their airplanes. As such risk aversion enters in the equation where the pilots have decided that flying exceeds the appetite for the risk involved. Couple that with the expense/reward element of obtaining an annual, AME medical exam, BFR or more likely flight review and the choice may become to not fly. On that risk aversion point, I think that some owners see selling as a risk as well. In this current used aircraft market, although somewhat softening as of late, it would make more sense to sell with a
good contract and move on.
Brian
not a broker:-)