NAFA member Mike Smith, President of Scope Aircraft Finance, shares his latest article in The Plane Truth tackling the question every borrower is asking right now — are rates up or down? The answer is more nuanced than you think, and understanding it could shape your next aircraft purchase decision.
On a recent loan transaction, I was discussing the final loan structure with our borrower when the question of "aren't rates going down?" came up. This was a perfect time for that question, because I knew I had promised our Plane Truth readers that I'd touch on the interest rate environment in my March article.
For those who have been faithful readers (and if this is your first time, welcome, and please tell your friends), you'll recall that in 2025, when I touched on interest rates, I looked at the 10-Year US Treasury rate in our discussions. I reference the 10-Year Treasury because it's a good trend indicator of where rates are going, which is the bigger picture I want to maintain when discussing financing conditions here.
This article was originally published on March 19, 2026 in the March 2026 Issue #18 of The Plane Truth.