• Examine your needs: -What will you primarily be using your aircraft for? This is one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself. If you have a family of six and would like to take them on a holiday once a year, but you are mostly going to be using your plane to commute relatively short distances for work, you probably don't need to own a Cessna 210 just because it will hold the whole family. In the long run it would be much more cost effective to buy a plane more suited to your commute and rent a plane for that big family vacation each year.

• Think about what is important to you in an aircraft and make a list, arranging it from most important to least important. This will help you determine which plane is right for you because these days there are just so many types of aircraft to choose from. For instance many non-GA type aircraft have evolved to become very similar, almost the same as many typical GA aircarft like Cessna, Piper and Beechcraft. The registration and operating costs are very important.

• Determine your budget: : -The purchase price of an aircraft is only part of the affordability. You must also consider the cost of operating and maintaining the aircraft. Being prepared for such a big decision will insure that you make the right one.

• Compare aircraft size & performance –vs- operating costs: -Once you have established your basic needs & budget, you can begin comparing aircraft to see which one is right for you however, the choice of aircraft is almost immeasurable these days with so many quality ‘kit type aircraft’ coming online almost every day. For instance, Australia’s own Jabiru is fast becoming the most popular entry level aircraft in Australia but, the Piper, Cessna and Beechcraft makes are still the dominant brands in GA today.

• Once you’ve narrowed down the type of aircraft you want, you have to consider not only costs issues but also whether or not the aircraft is really suitable for your needs for instance; a Cherokee 140 has four seats, but will realistically only carry two adults and two kids, where as a Cherokee 180 will carry 4 adults while going a few knots faster, but it will also cost more in maintenance, fuel & insurance. Performing a cost comparison for each type of aircraft you are interested in will help you narrow down the market.

• Do you qualify for insurance in the plane you desire? -Your experience level as a pilot greatly determines which types of aircraft you qualify for insurance in, as well as your annual premiums. It is a good idea to start making contact with a specialist aviation insurer at this time because it may save you from wasting your time shopping for an aircraft you can't get insurance in. For instance low hour pilots won’t be able to obtain insurance on high performance aircraft. But, you may qualify for insurance after meeting a minimum requirement such as five hours of instruction in a similar make and model. By knowing these things ahead of time, you can be one step ahead of the game. To learn more about aviation insurance and who to contact see Step 8: Get a Quality Insurance Policy.

• Civil Aviation Insurance is Australia’s leading aviation insurance broker and can help you determine what insurance you will need and the costs of it – that will help you determine if the type of aircraft you’re planning to buy is affordable from an insurance costing. Click here to go to the Civil Aviation Insurance website

• As you can see there are a lot of factors involved in choosing the right type of plane. For this reason many aircraft buyers choose to enlist the help of a qualified aircraft dealer or broker who might be able to help you save you time, money and in some cases a lot of headaches. To find an Aircraft Dealer -/- Broker who might be able to help you, click here

After helping hundreds of aircraft owners sell their aircraft, helicopters and aviation accessories online, we’re been able to establish some helpful tips on how best to advertise your aircraft for sale; click here to get tips on how to sell your aircraft.