• videocam On-Demand Webinar
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Tax Law
  • schedule 90 minutes

Aircraft Acquisition Planning and Key Considerations of Aircraft Ownership

Pre-Purchase Pitfalls to Avoid, Steps in the Acquisition Process, Co-Ownership Issues, Tax Compliance, and Regulatory Issues

About the Course

Introduction

This CLE/CPE webinar will provide attorneys and tax professionals a detailed analysis of key considerations and planning for aircraft purchase and ownership. The speaker will discuss pre-purchase planning in aircraft selection, the acquisition process from offer letter to closing, and critical tax compliance and regulatory considerations.

Description

The purchase and ownership of business aircraft come with significant legal and tax implications, but could also provide some opportunities if planned correctly. Attorneys and advisers must recognize the impact of federal regulations and key tax provisions on business airplane purchases and ownership and implement planning techniques to ensure the best results for owners.

Owning and operating a business aircraft offers great flexibility and growth opportunities for businesses. In order to reap the benefits of aircraft ownership, purchasers and their advisers must be aware of (1) the necessary personnel needed for purchasing and managing an aircraft, (2) pre-purchase essentials for taxpayers and operators, (3) key steps in the acquisition process, (4) costs of owning and maintaining an aircraft, and ways to offset those costs, and (5) critical tax and legal implications under federal law.

In addition, attorneys and advisers must consider the bonus depreciation rules, hobby loss rules, personal use calculations, and federal excise taxes, along with many other items that must be taken into account.

Listen as our speaker discusses the pre-planning essentials and tax considerations of airplane purchases. The panel will detail the acquisition process from offer letter to closing, and offer strategies for minimizing taxes and ensuring compliance with federal regulations.

Presented By

Letisha D. Sailor, Esq.
Founder & Managing Member
AvTax Advisors, PLLC

Ms. Sailor has over 20 years of aviation, tax, and accounting experience. She has assisted hundreds of aircraft owners and operators with aviation tax planning to minimize state tax consequences, maximize federal tax deductions, meet FAA regulatory requirements, and ensure ongoing compliance with recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Ms. Sailor has also assisted clients with structuring a vast number of aircraft transactions, including drafting and negotiating purchase/sales agreements, dry lease agreements, aircraft and charter management agreements, and co-ownership agreements. In addition to tax planning and structuring, she has represented numerous aircraft owners and operators in all aspects of state and federal tax examinations, including representing clients during audit examinations and administrative appeals; negotiating with IRS and state revenue personnel to resolve tax assessments; and representing clients before the U.S. Tax Court and state courts and administrative tribunals. Prior to founding ATA, Ms. Sailor was a Principal at GKG Law, P.C. (2023-2025) in the business aviation and tax practice group and a managing attorney at Advocate Consulting Legal Group, PLLC (“ACLG”), an aviation tax firm she joined in 2009.   

Credit Information
  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Tuesday, May 5, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

I. Pre-purchase planning for aircraft purchases

II. Steps in the acquisition process from offer letter to closing

III. Tax and regulation considerations

IV. Planning strategies to optimize tax benefits of airplane ownership

The speaker will review these and other key issues:

  • What are the pre-planning steps that must occur prior to an aircraft purchase?
  • What are the key considerations in structuring an aircraft purchase?
  • What are the applicable tax rules and legal framework impacting aircraft purchases and operations?
  • What are the most effective methods to optimize the tax benefits of airplane ownership?