ARTICLES

By: Stewart Lapayowker

Uncoordinated Structures and Operations n anticipation of the acquisition of an aircraft, a great deal of time is spent on establishing a tax efficient and FAA-compliant operating structure. After all of the tax, accounting, aviation and other professionals have weighed in on and agreed upon an appropriate aircraft operating structure, the documents are prepared, the…

Is Your Pre-Purchase Inspection Taking Too Long?

In connection with the sale of a pre-owned aircraft, an aircraft is typically subjected to a pre-purchase inspection following execution of the purchase agreement. The purchase agreement ordinarily includes an exhibit describing the scope of the inspection (that is, the tasks that will be accomplished) to be performed at the inspection facility. The parties execute a proposal with the inspection…

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Is Your Letter of Intent an Accident Waiting to Happen?

I was talking with a friend of mine (“Bill”) who has been a business aircraft pilot for more than 50 years, rated on many types of corporate aircraft. We were discussing the Asiana accident at San Francisco International Airport a few years ago in which a commercial airliner crashed on final approach. Both of us watched the newscast of the…

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Don’t Be Emotionally Compromised

he film Star Trek (J.J. Abrams, dir., Paramount Pictures, 2009) presents an alternate timeline in which Spock is Captain and Kirk is First Officer. Kirk taunts Spock in an effort to upset him and, after beating up Kirk, Spock realizes he’s lost control of his emotions. He announces: “Doctor, I am no lon-ger fit for duty. I hereby relinquish my…

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