Aircraft Leasing
Aircraft Leasing is a business practice where airlines rent planes instead of buying them outright. It's like renting a car, but on a much larger scale. Companies that do aircraft leasing own planes and rent them to airlines, usually for periods of several years. This helps airlines avoid the huge costs of buying aircraft and gives them flexibility to change their fleet size based on business needs. It's a crucial part of how modern airlines operate, with many airlines using a mix of owned and leased aircraft in their fleet.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Aircraft Leasing portfolio worth $500M across multiple airline clients
Negotiated Aircraft Lease agreements with major international carriers
Led Aircraft Leasing operations for a fleet of 20 commercial aircraft
Typical job title: "Aircraft Leasing Professionals"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Aircraft Leasing Professionals
Industry Organizations
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you evaluate the risk of an aircraft lease deal with a new airline?
Expected Answer: Should discuss analyzing airline financials, market conditions, aircraft value projections, and having backup plans for aircraft placement if the airline defaults.
Q: What factors influence aircraft residual values?
Expected Answer: Should explain how aircraft age, maintenance condition, market demand, fuel efficiency, and global economic conditions affect an aircraft's future value.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the key components of an aircraft lease agreement?
Expected Answer: Should mention lease term, rental rates, maintenance requirements, return conditions, insurance requirements, and payment terms.
Q: How do maintenance reserves work in aircraft leasing?
Expected Answer: Should explain how lessors collect regular payments to cover future maintenance costs and how these funds are managed and released.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between an operating lease and a finance lease?
Expected Answer: Should explain that operating leases are temporary rentals while finance leases are more like buying with a loan, with different accounting treatments.
Q: What are the basic types of aircraft commonly available for lease?
Expected Answer: Should be able to discuss common commercial aircraft types like narrow-body and wide-body planes and their typical uses by airlines.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of lease agreements
- Knowledge of aircraft types and configurations
- Familiarity with aviation industry terms
- Basic financial analysis skills
Mid (2-5 years)
- Lease contract negotiation
- Aircraft maintenance program knowledge
- Risk assessment abilities
- Understanding of aviation regulations
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex deal structuring
- Portfolio management
- Market analysis and forecasting
- Strategic planning and risk management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic aviation terminology
- Lack of knowledge about aircraft values and market trends
- No experience with lease contracts or financial documents
- Poor understanding of airline business models
