View Blog Posts

June 2020

Used Aircraft Inventory Levels Rising in All Segments as Jet Values Continue Trending Lower

LINCOLN, Nebraska — August 8, 2024

The newest Sandhills Global aviation market reports show inventory levels increasing month over month for aircraft in all segments, which include pre-owned jets, piston single airplanes, turboprop airplanes, and Robinson piston helicopters. Inventory is currently approaching levels observed in late 2023, prior to January 2024 decreases.

“The aircraft market overall is slowing, but that is not unusual during the summer months,” says Controller Department Manager Brant Washburn. “We expect sellers will adjust their asking prices based on changing conditions, and the market will pick up again heading into the fall season.”

Asking prices are trending down for used jets and turboprop aircraft, with jets declining at a higher rate. Asking prices are trending sideways for used piston single aircraft and increasing for used Robinson piston helicopters.

Sandhills’ aviation products include Controller, Controller EMEA, Executive Controller, Charter Hub, Aviation Trader, Aircraft Cost Calculator, and AircraftEvaluator. AircraftEvaluator is Sandhills’ proprietary asset valuation tool for all types of aircraft, built using the same technology behind FleetEvaluator. Widely used and trusted across equipment, truck, and trailer industries, FleetEvaluator identifies asset values with unparalleled accuracy.

The key metric used in all of Sandhills’ market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets, as well as model-year equipment actively in use.

Additional Market Report Takeaways

This report includes detailed analyses of asking values and inventory trends in used aircraft markets along with charts that help readers visualize the data. It describes and quantifies important trends in the buying and selling of used jet, piston single, turboprop, and Robinson piston helicopter aircraft.

Global Used Jets

  • Inventory rose 5.76% M/M in July in Sandhills’ worldwide used jet marketplaces, marking several consecutive months of inventory growth. Inventory was up 8.23% year over year.
  • Asking values increased slightly in July, by 0.24% M/M, but continue trending downward. Asking values were 6.22% lower than July 2023.

Chart showing current inventory and asking value trends for used piston single aircraft.

U.S. and Canada Used Piston Single Aircraft

  • Sandhills noted a sideways trend for used piston single aircraft inventory levels in the U.S. and Canada. Inventory was up 1.25% M/M in July but 9.43% lower YOY.
  • Asking values decreased by 0.3% M/M and 1.81% YOY in July and are trending sideways.

Chart showing current inventory and asking value trends for used piston single aircraft.

U.S. and Canada Used Turboprop Aircraft

  • Inventory levels of used turboprop aircraft in the U.S. and Canada rose 3.39% M/M and 9.09% YOY in July and are trending upward.
  • Conversely, asking values decreased 0.67% M/M and 0.49% YOY and are trending down.

Chart showing current inventory and asking value trends for used turboprop aircraft.

Global Used Robinson Piston Helicopters

  • In the global used Robinson helicopter market, inventory levels increased by 2.63% M/M in July and are trending sideways. Inventory was 9.35% higher than in the same period last year.
  • Following several months of growth, asking values continued to increase in July, up 4.45% M/M and 7.08% YOY.

Chart showing current inventory and asking value trends for used Robinson piston helicopters.

Obtain the Full Reports

For more information or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at [email protected].