FLAP PANTANEIRO

Selling guide

How to sell your aircraft: price, documents and transfer

Selling an aircraft well is not just finding someone to pay: it is reaching the buyer with a defensible price, documents in order and no hidden issue. A serious buyer runs due diligence, and whatever they find becomes an argument for a discount or a reason to walk away.

This guide follows the order Flap uses when it handles a sale, from price to transfer at the RAB (the Brazilian Aircraft Registry). The registry points come from the ANAC rules cited at the end.

The stages of a well-run sale

  1. 1

    Set the price from a reference, not from expectation

    An asking price with no reference drives away qualified buyers or leaves money on the table. Compare against equivalent aircraft in year, hours, engine and avionics, and use a valuation as the starting point. Flap offers AeroFIPE as an initial value reference.

  2. 2

    Organize the documents before you list

    Complete and legible airframe, engine and propeller logbooks, airworthiness directives with compliance recorded, valid certificates and the aircraft's status at the RAB. A missing document is the first reason a deal stalls.

  3. 3

    Clear liens and open issues

    Under ANAC Resolution No. 293, an aircraft with a mortgage or other real encumbrance is not admitted for registration without the creditor's express consent, and the lien release document is required when there is an encumbrance. Settle this before negotiating, not after.

  4. 4

    Present the aircraft with verified data

    Hours, engine, avionics and configuration must match the logbooks. Overstated information in the listing shows up at inspection and costs the buyer's trust. Full identification data is for the already qualified prospect, not for the open listing.

  5. 5

    Qualify the prospect before opening everything

    Confirm there is a real buyer, with the means to pay and interest in this specific aircraft, before handing over the full documentation and scheduling a visit. It saves time and protects information.

  6. 6

    Expect the pre-buy inspection and agree on the rules first

    An attentive buyer inspects with an independent shop. Agree in writing, beforehand, who pays for what and what happens if the inspection finds something that changes the value.

  7. 7

    Formalize and close at the RAB

    The bill of sale is signed by seller, buyer and two witnesses, with signatures notarized for authenticity. The seller must send the RAB a notice of sale, with notarized signature, within 30 days, and it is waived when the buyer registers the title on time. Until the transfer is recorded at the RAB the aircraft stays in the seller's name, which is why following the process through to registration matters to the seller.

Flap handles the sale with the seller: value reference, document preparation, presentation to qualified buyers, negotiation and follow-up of the transfer.

To start, send the model, year, hours and documentation status on WhatsApp. The first conversation is about what is ready and what needs to be solved before listing.

Talk to a specialist

WhatsApp (67) 99836-7983

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to notify the RAB of the sale?

Under ANAC Resolution No. 293, the seller sends the notice of sale, with notarized signature, within 30 days. It is waived when the acquisition title is registered within the deadline.

Can I sell an aircraft that has a mortgage or financing?

The rule does not admit for registration an aircraft with a real encumbrance without the creditor's express consent. The lien must be settled with the creditor before the transfer is completed.

Does the aircraft stay in my name after the sale?

Until the transfer is recorded at the RAB, yes. Under the Brazilian Aeronautical Code, the transfer title only transfers ownership once it is recorded.

How do I know what my aircraft is worth?

Compare with equivalent aircraft and use a valuation as the starting point. Flap offers AeroFIPE as an initial reference, and a conversation with a specialist settles the number.

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