Aircraft age is not a safety concern. However, older aircraft that haven’t been properly refurbished may cause inconveniences such as overheating, faulty air conditioning, or plumbing issues in the lavatory.
More important than an aircraft’s age is its maintenance history. The aircraft should meet or exceed the manufacturer’s specifications and FAA requirements for Part 135 operations. If it’s well-maintained, it should be safe.
The next significant safety factor is pilot experience. Pilots must be familiar with the aircraft and have many flight hours logged in that type.
To ensure safety, it’s advisable to have aircraft maintenance records audited by a third party. Wyvern, ARG/US, and IS-BAO are three primary safety auditing organizations. If the aircraft and operator have been audited by one of these and deemed safe, you can be confident that the aircraft meets the necessary safety standards.
New aircraft vs old aircraft: what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Newer aircraft are more expensive, and their owners often invest more in the interiors. If an owner pays $10 million for an aircraft, they might spend an additional $1 million revamping the interior with leather seating, wood grain panels, and extravagant lavatories. Owners of a $2 million aircraft are less likely to do this. As a result, newer aircraft often feel more luxurious.
Here are some typical advantages of newer aircraft:
- Luxurious interiors
- Cutting-edge entertainment systems
- Modern avionics with more backup systems
- Newer engines
- Increased fuel efficiency
- Faster speeds
What are the advantages of an older aircraft?
Older private jets offer better value for clients. You can save as much as 20-30% on the hourly rate when choosing an older aircraft over a newer one, while still enjoying an exclusive, private jet experience.
How many years is an aircraft when it’s considered old, new, or average?
An aircraft’s age is based on when it was built. Here are the approximate ages for an aircraft:
- Old aircraft = 20+ years
- Standard aircraft = 10-20 years
- New aircraft = 10 years or less
At InsiJets, we don’t recommend aircraft over 30 years old to our clients, although each company has its own standards.
What would you say is the average age of the aircraft that InsiJets sources for clients?
Aircraft offered for charter by InsiJets range from 2-40 years old. Aircraft over 20 years are typically only provided when specifically requested. Usually, private jet clients fly on a standard aircraft (10-20 years old) or newer, often because clients prefer more luxurious interiors.
For short trips, clients usually request a standard aircraft. As the length of the trip and the size of the aircraft increase, clients tend to request newer aircraft.
Even though a 19-year-old aircraft is considered standard, the 2000 ultra-long-range Gulfstream GV is seen by many as “old” because people chartering larger jets usually favor newer aircraft. A newer alternative is the G550, introduced in 2004, though some clients still consider that too old and request a G650.
In contrast, clients are typically much more flexible with the age of smaller aircraft.
Regarding older aircraft in the market, are there more turboprops or heavy jets?
Turboprops are not comparable to jets because most turboprops available for charter are very old, dating back to the early 1970s-1980s. They’re rarely renovated and often have issues with internal plumbing, heating, or AC. Only a handful of new turboprops are available in the charter market.
Do older aircraft have more mechanical issues as they get older?
Old aircraft don’t necessarily have more mechanical issues if they’re well-maintained. Over time, every part of the plane will be replaced with a new part. However, in our experience, these older aircraft still have more operational issues such as faults with the AC, heating, and plumbing.
