Applying for aviation finance should be a straightforward process, but there are numerous areas that could hurt an applicant’s chances. Gerrard Cowan with AvBuyer asks industry experts to outline five of the most common things for buyers to avoid…
What are the five most common areas where aircraft buyers hurt their chance of securing financing for their aircraft? AvBuyer asked a selection of industry experts…
According to Keller Laseter, Chief Commercial Officer at FLYING Finance, many Business Aviation finance applicants run into trouble by submitting messy or incomplete financials. Problems could stem from missing tax returns, outdated personal statements or neglecting to include business income.
“Lenders need a clear, accurate picture to evaluate risk, and any missing pieces can slow things down or lead to a decline,” he warns.
To address the issue, applicants should begin by gathering and organizing all relevant financial documents, including at least two years of tax returns, current personal financial statements, business financials (if applicable), and proof of liquidity. If income comes from less traditional sources like consulting, digital assets or investments, it’s important to make sure you can clearly show its stability and consistency, Laseter adds.
“Keep your personal credit strong, as it still plays a big role, especially when personal guarantees are required. Most importantly, be transparent. Lenders don’t expect perfection, but they do expect honesty and completeness.”
Indeed, Christopher Lee, President of the aircraft division at 1st Source Bank, says that even high-net-worth individuals sometimes underestimate how lenders assess cashflow and liquidity. Aircraft are unique assets, which depreciate and require ongoing maintenance, insurance, pilot training, hangars and more.
This article was originally published by AvBuyer on September 15, 2025.