SERVICE 01 · AIRCRAFT ACQUISITION

Own the Aircraft.
Understand Every Dollar Behind It.

From the day you sign the purchase agreement to years into operation, Altifin keeps your acquisition finances organized, transparent, and decision-ready.

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SVC: ACQ-001 FROM: $3,500 USD ALTIFIN · ACQUISITION ACCOUNTING

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Financial clarity from closing day forward

Acquiring an aircraft should be a milestone, not the beginning of a paperwork headache. When the accounting is handled properly from the start — closing adjustments recorded correctly, depreciation structured appropriately, reserves established — you step into ownership knowing exactly where you stand financially.

That's what this service is built around. Not just bookkeeping, but a financial picture of your aircraft that stays accurate and useful as the asset ages, gets financed, or changes operational role.

Accurate cost basis from day one

Every closing cost, adjustment, and financing arrangement captured correctly in your records before the aircraft ever leaves the ramp.

Depreciation that reflects reality

Schedules built around the aircraft type, usage profile, and applicable tax treatment — not generic formulas that ignore how aviation assets actually age.

True cost of ownership, always visible

Ongoing summaries that pull together operating expenses, financing costs, and tax implications so you see the full picture, not just the fuel bill.

THE CHALLENGE

Aircraft accounting is different from anything else on a balance sheet

Most accounting systems and generalist accountants aren't designed for the complexity that comes with owning an aircraft. The gaps show up slowly — and sometimes at the worst possible moment.

Closing costs recorded incorrectly

Pre-purchase inspections, escrow fees, import duties — these get capitalized or expensed in ways that affect your cost basis for years. An error at closing compounds over time.

Depreciation schedules that don't fit

Aircraft have useful lives and residual value curves that standard depreciation tables don't reflect. A turboprop operated under Part 135 ages differently than a corporate jet on a Part 91 certificate.

No clear picture of total cost

Finance, insurance, crew, fuel, maintenance, hangar, and scheduled reserves rarely sit together in one readable report. Most owners have a rough sense of costs but struggle to see the complete number.

Reserve tracking that drifts

Maintenance reserves established at acquisition often aren't revisited as operating hours accumulate. When a major inspection arrives, the financial surprise can be significant.

Tax exposure discovered late

Bonus depreciation eligibility, Section 179 applications, use-tax exposure on international acquisitions — these are easier to plan for before the filing than to correct afterward.

Lender reporting becomes complicated

Financed aircraft carry reporting obligations to lenders. When the financial records aren't structured to support those reports, the relationship gets unnecessarily difficult.

HOW WE APPROACH IT

Aviation-specific accounting from the first transaction

Altifin's Aircraft Acquisition & Ownership Accounting service is structured around the actual lifecycle of an aircraft as a financial asset — not as a generalist catch-all. The work begins before the aircraft enters service and continues as long as you operate it.

We start by reviewing the acquisition structure: how the purchase is financed, what the closing statement includes, and how the aircraft will be used operationally. From that foundation, we build a depreciation schedule that fits the asset, establish maintenance reserve accounting alongside your MRO planning, and configure reporting that gives you a complete ownership-cost view each period.

When financing arrangements change, when the aircraft moves between entities, or when a major inspection affects reserves — we handle the accounting so your records stay current and meaningful.

Acquisition Recording

Purchase price, closing adjustments, capitalized pre-purchase costs, and any import or transfer fees recorded with the correct treatment from the start.

Depreciation Schedule

Built around aircraft type, anticipated operating life, usage classification, and applicable regulatory or tax guidance. Reviewed when operational circumstances change.

Maintenance Reserve Tracking

Reserve accounts established and tracked against anticipated major maintenance events. Balances reported alongside actual expenditures so you always know your reserve adequacy.

Financing Arrangement Management

Loan or lease accounting maintained with interest allocation, principal tracking, and lender-ready reporting included as part of the regular reporting cycle.

Ownership Cost Summaries

Periodic reports that consolidate operating expenses, financing costs, depreciation, and tax implications into a single readable ownership-cost view.

WORKING TOGETHER

What the engagement looks like

From first contact through ongoing reporting, the process is designed to stay out of your way while keeping your records current and your financial picture clear.

Acquisition Review Call

We start by understanding the aircraft, the deal structure, and your operational plans. No forms — just a direct conversation with someone who understands aviation finance.

Records Setup

Closing documents are reviewed, accounts are structured, and depreciation parameters are established. We configure your records before the aircraft enters your books.

Regular Reporting

Monthly or quarterly ownership-cost summaries delivered on schedule. Reserve balances, depreciation position, and financing status included in each report.

Advisory Access

When something changes — a refinancing, a major inspection, a change in operational use — you can reach us directly. No waiting queue, no escalation process.

INVESTMENT

What's included and what it costs

SERVICE 01

Aircraft Acquisition & Ownership Accounting

For corporate flight departments, charter operators, and individual aircraft owners

$3,500

USD · per engagement

What's included

Full acquisition cost recording and closing adjustment treatment

Custom depreciation schedule appropriate to aircraft type and usage

Maintenance reserve account establishment and tracking

Financing arrangement accounting and lender reporting support

Periodic ownership-cost summaries with operating and financing detail

Tax implication review integrated into ownership-cost reporting

Dedicated point of contact throughout the engagement

Advisory access for accounting questions during the engagement period

Pricing note: The $3,500 USD figure covers a standard single-aircraft acquisition engagement. Engagements involving complex ownership structures, multiple financing layers, or multi-aircraft acquisitions are scoped individually. We'll confirm pricing clearly before any work begins.

THE METHODOLOGY

How results are measured

Aviation accounting outcomes aren't always immediate. Here's what we track and how progress shows up in practice.

RECORDS

Clean from the start

The clearest measure of quality in acquisition accounting is whether the records hold up under scrutiny — from auditors, lenders, or a future buyer. We set that standard at closing and maintain it throughout.

RESERVES

No inspection-day surprises

Reserve adequacy is tracked against actual operating hours and scheduled maintenance intervals. When a major inspection approaches, you'll see it in your reserve balance well in advance — not when the invoice arrives.

REPORTING

Decision-ready numbers

Each period's ownership-cost summary should answer the questions that matter to you: what does this aircraft actually cost to operate, what's the true financing burden, and where does the depreciation position sit.

TIMELINE

Realistic expectations

Initial setup typically completes within two to three weeks of receiving closing documentation. First reporting cycle follows the agreed cadence — usually the month after acquisition records are established.

SCOPE

Built for your operation

Whether you manage a single corporate aircraft or a small fleet of owned assets, the engagement is scoped to match your actual complexity. We don't apply a one-size approach to aviation finance.

CONTINUITY

Records that travel with you

Your ownership accounting is documented in a format that transfers cleanly if the aircraft is sold, refinanced, or moved to a different operational structure. No institutional knowledge held hostage.

OUR COMMITMENT

Work you can stand behind

CPA-qualified work

Every engagement is handled and reviewed by licensed accounting professionals with aviation-specific experience.

On-schedule delivery

Reports and reconciliations delivered on the agreed cycle. If something changes, you hear from us before the deadline, not after.

Direct conversation

If the work doesn't match what we discussed, we address it directly. No billing disputes for corrections to our own work.

Before any engagement begins, we spend time understanding your situation properly. If there isn't a clear fit, we'll tell you that rather than taking on work we can't do well.

NEXT STEPS

How to get started

Getting your acquisition accounting set up doesn't require a complicated onboarding process. Here's the path forward.

Send us a message

Use the contact form on our homepage or email [email protected]. Briefly describe the aircraft and what you're trying to accomplish with the accounting.

We follow up within one business day

A member of our team will reach out to schedule a short call. No lengthy intake forms, no sales process — just a conversation about your situation.

Scope confirmation

We confirm the engagement scope and pricing in writing before any work begins. If the scope needs adjustment after reviewing your closing documents, we discuss that openly.

Records setup begins

Once the engagement is confirmed, we request the necessary documentation and begin building your accounting structure. Most setups complete within two to three weeks.

CLEARED FOR APPROACH

Ready to put the financial side of your acquisition in order?

Whether you're closing on an aircraft next month or working through a situation that's been unclear for a while — the right time to get the accounting structured properly is before the records drift further.

Get in Touch with Altifin

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