Modified Technical Evaluations vs Traditional Pre-purchase Inspections

At West Star Aviation, we have seen an increase in requests for technical evaluations or Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI).  While not uncommon with pre-owned aircraft transactions on the rise currently, but a trend is developing regarding requests for a “modified” technical evaluation. 

A modified technical evaluation can be an attractive option for new operators for two primary reasons:

• Shorter downtime compared to a traditional PPI
• They can reduce costs at time of purchase for the buyer

An example of this would be doing a logbook review along with a small hourly or monthly inspection. 

However, there are certainly caveats to going with a modified evaluation, such as:

• The next major inspection you may discover issues that would have normally been found during a full PPI.  
• These issues are now the responsibility of the new owner instead of the seller.

The core benefit of a full PPI has always been to identify issues early and potentially reduce elevated costs on subsequent maintenance visits, prior to the sale closing. The items in the checklist provide the prospective buyer with a look at areas prone to substantial discrepancies. 

West Star has the experience and flexibility to perform both full PPI and modified technical evaluations depending on the specific needs and expectations of the customer.  The goal is the same, however – to identify any potential problem areas early on.   

West Star’s technical evaluation checklists are developed through years of experience by qualified industry leaders. Examples include a Borescope inspection of the flap internal areas, engines and APU. Internal wing inspections are also areas a prospective buyer should be considering at the point of purchase in addition to the standard technical evaluation and logbook research. 

While modifying a technical evaluation may appear beneficial at the time. The flight department’s needs in the future should be taken into consideration, a shorter down time now, could cause longer downtime later at the new owner’s expense. 

West Star has the airframe-specific expertise needed to inform operators of all their evaluation options, including specific areas of concern with a particular make or model of aircraft.  This allows the customer to make an educated decision on how to move forward.