Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for Buying a Used Business Jet

A used business jet can be a smart way to buy more aircraft for the money. It can also become a very expensive lesson if the aircraft has hidden damage, missing records or a maintenance bill the seller never mentioned.

A proper pre-purchase inspection (often called a "pre-buy") is your best protection. This checklist walks through what to examine, who should do it and how to use the results in negotiations.

What Is a Pre-Purchase Inspection?

A pre-purchase inspection is an independent, detailed examination of the aircraft and its records, performed after you and the seller sign a purchase agreement but before you accept delivery. Its purpose is to confirm the aircraft is in the condition the seller described and to uncover anything that affects value.

It is not the same as a routine maintenance inspection. A pre-buy is built around your questions as a buyer.

Step 1: Choose the Right Inspection Facility

• Pick a neutral shop. Avoid a facility with ties to the seller.
• Use a type-experienced shop. Choose an OEM service center or a respected independent shop that regularly works on that make and model.
• Agree on scope in writing before the aircraft is opened up: which inspections, how deep, who pays for discrepancies and what counts as an acceptable fix.

Pre-buy costs vary widely by type, scope and location, from tens of thousands of dollars on smaller jets to considerably more on large-cabin aircraft. Ask for a written estimate and a not-to-exceed figure.

Step 2: Review the Aircraft Records

Records often matter as much as the metal. Reviewing them carefully is where many problems are found.

• Complete logbooks for airframe, engines, APU and propellers if applicable, with no gaps
• Damage history. Any prior damage, repairs and whether they were done to manufacturer-approved standards. Damage history can significantly reduce resale value.
• Airworthiness Directive (AD) and Service Bulletin compliance, including recurring items
• Inspection status, including due dates for major inspections (typically measured in calendar time, flight hours and cycles)
• Component times and life-limited parts, including landing gear, engine hot sections and rotating components
• Past maintenance providers and invoices that support the logbook entries
• Registration history, which you can start checking in the FAA Aircraft Registry (see our guide to reading a tail number)

Step 3: Check Title and Ownership

Do this in parallel with the technical inspection, ideally with an aviation attorney and a reputable escrow agent.

• Run a title search to confirm clear ownership.
• Confirm there are no liens or encumbrances.
• Verify the registration is current and the seller has authority to sell.
• Use an escrow agreement so funds and title transfer simultaneously.

Step 4: Airframe and Structure

• Inspect for corrosion, especially in wheel wells, galleys and lavatory areas
• Examine control surfaces, flight controls and flap tracks
• Check landing gear and brakes
• Review pressurization components and door seals
• Verify fuel system condition and look for leaks
• Check for evidence of repainting, patching or repair over previously damaged areas

Step 5: Engines and APU

Engines are typically the largest single value item, so scrutinize them closely.

• Borescope inspections of the hot section and compressor
• Oil analysis and trend data
• Engine trend monitoring records
• Time since overhaul or hot section inspection
• Enrollment in a maintenance program that follows the aircraft to a new owner

That last point matters. On the Falcon 7X market, for example, The Jet Guys' report shows about half of listed aircraft (13 of 26) carry an ESP Platinum engine program and another 10 carry ESP Gold. On the HondaJet Elite II, all three for-sale aircraft carry the EMC2 program. Confirm whether the program is transferable, what it costs to transfer and whether it remains current.

Step 6: Avionics and Compliance

Avionics and airspace requirements change faster than airframes. An aircraft that was fully equipped five years ago may not be today.

• ADS-B Out equipage and performance
• Data link and FANS/CPDLC for oceanic and international operations (only about 35% of Falcon 7X listings in the market report show CPDLC or FANS)
• WAAS/LPV approach capability
• TCAS, TAWS and weather radar operation
• Navigation database subscriptions and transferability
• Connectivity equipment such as high-speed data or satellite phone (only about 27% of listed Falcon 7Xs report high-speed data/WiFi)

Missing upgrades are not deal-breakers, but they are negotiating points. Get quotes for the retrofit.

Step 7: Interior, Paint and Cabin Systems

• Condition of seats, carpet, cabinetry and veneers
• Operation of galley equipment, lavatory and entertainment systems
• Lighting, cabin management system and USB or power outlets
• Paint condition, since a full repaint can run into six figures on larger jets

Step 8: The Test Flight

Include a functional check flight with your chosen pilot or inspector. It should test pressurization, systems, autopilot, avionics, engine performance and handling, flown as the flight manual specifies.

Step 9: Use the Results in Negotiation

Your inspection will almost always produce a "squawk list." Handle it methodically:

1. Separate airworthiness items (must be fixed) from cosmetic or deferred items.
2. Get a repair estimate for each.
3. Ask the seller to fix items before closing, reduce the price, or credit you at closing.
4. Be willing to walk away if findings are serious or the seller will not cooperate.

Price context also helps. In the Falcon 7X market, monthly average sale prices over the last 36 months ranged from about 88% to 102% of average asking prices, and most months landed in the low 90s to high 90s. A negotiated discount supported by documented findings is normal.

Common Red Flags

• Gaps in logbooks or missing records
• Unreported damage or repairs
• Deferred inspections or overdue ADs
• Engines near overhaul without program coverage
• A seller who resists a neutral inspection facility

Work With a Team You Trust

A pre-buy works best when your broker, attorney, inspector and pilot all pull in the same direction. The Jet Guys can help you understand where an aircraft sits in the market before you commit, and what comparable aircraft are selling for.

Related reading: Gulfstream G700 vs Dassault Falcon 6X and how much it costs to own a private jet in 2026.