Aircraft broker René Banglesdorf says light jet sales are picking up

René Banglesdorf, CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation.

René Banglesdorf, CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation, says smaller US businesses are starting to buy pre-owned light jets again.

René Banglesdorf, CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation.

At NBAA 2013 in Las Vegas last month, René Banglesdorf, CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation, told Corporate Jet Investor in an exclusive video interview (below) that the business jet market is performing better than some of the more pessimistic reports suggest.

As a broker of pre-owned business jets, Banglesdorf said she is a position, along with her colleagues and competitors, where she is able to witness the market’s recovery before many other areas of the industry.

“What we’re seeing – and I’ve confirmed this with several of my competitors – is a big pick-up in small jets and turboprops and we’re seeing that from US small and mid-size businesses,” she said.

In its latest market report, aviation data provider JETNET confirmed an increase in the average asking price for pre-owned business jets between July and September 2013, but said sales lagged throughout the first nine months of the year, taking an additional 31 days to close.

Banglesdorf also noted the prevalence of a more educated type of buyer, largely as a result of technological advances, that is forcing aircraft brokers to adapt. “They are doing a lot of internet research and asking a lot more questions,” she said.

Banglesdorf and the Charlie Bravo team, which is based in Austin, Texas, brought a 1995 Falcon 900B business jet to the static display at NBAA 2013, which saw over 80 aircraft on exhibit at Henderson Airport.

Corporate Jet Investor also asked Banglesdorf to describe the current business jet market in one word, along with the heads of Boeing Business Jets, Wheels Up and even Iron Maiden’s front man, Bruce Dickinson.