Aircraft Collateral Financing

Private Capital Secured by
Aircraft

Access liquidity against a qualifying private jet, turboprop, helicopter, or aviation portfolio without selling. The Liquidity Network arranges private capital secured by qualifying aircraft, reviewed on ownership, title, technical records, maintenance status, condition, market demand, TLN's valuation, and underwriting. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.

Aviation Assets as Collateral

Aircraft Collateral Financing

Aircraft collateral financing lets the owner of a qualifying aircraft access private capital without selling it. The Liquidity Network arranges private capital secured by qualifying business jets, turboprops, helicopters, select piston aircraft, and qualifying aviation portfolios. A single aircraft or a broader portfolio may be reviewed, and owners may be able to retain ownership while accessing capital.

Whether an aircraft may qualify depends on type, make, model, year, serial number, registration, title, ownership, hours and cycles, maintenance status, logbooks, damage history, equipment, market demand, TLN's valuation, and underwriting. Not every aircraft automatically qualifies, and a recognized manufacturer alone does not establish eligibility. Understanding how valuable property may support private capital helps before preparing a submission.

It also helps to keep several figures separate. An aircraft's original purchase price, its insured value, an asking price, a broker opinion, an appraisal, and its wholesale or retail market value are not necessarily the same as its collateral value. Collateral value reflects TLN's valuation of what an aircraft may realistically support in the current market, weighed against technical records, maintenance status, condition, equipment, and demand.

Aircraft ownership is capital-intensive, and an aircraft can take longer to sell than financial assets, so structured private capital can address a need without an immediate sale and without disrupting operational status. The review reflects how the aircraft market actually works, from ownership and title through records and comparable transactions, and you can see how aviation assets move through review and valuation. An existing lien does not automatically disqualify an aircraft: where a lien exists, the outstanding balance is factored into the capital structure, subject to underwriting and to the requested capital and the aircraft's verified value supporting it. You can begin an aircraft submission with whatever records you have.

At a Glance

Asset Type
Business Jets, Turboprops, Helicopters, Select Piston Aircraft
Aircraft Types
Light, midsize, super-midsize, and large-cabin jets; turboprops; turbine helicopters
Capital Range
$10,000 – $10,000,000+
Initial Review
Typically within one business day
Key Factors
Ownership and title, technical records, maintenance status, hours and cycles, condition, market demand
No Credit Check
Asset-based underwriting only

Documentation That Strengthens Review

None of the following is required to submit. When these items happen to be available, they strengthen the valuation basis and can support a faster review and stronger preliminary terms:

  • Registration number and airworthiness status, where you have them
  • Aircraft, engine, and propeller logbooks and maintenance records
  • Engine or maintenance-program enrollment documentation, if any
  • Current airworthiness-directive compliance status from your maintenance provider
  • Maintenance tracking reports and inspection status
  • A recent inspection or appraisal, if one is available
  • Avionics and equipment list, and interior and exterior photographs

None of these is required to begin. Where an aircraft carries an existing lien, the outstanding balance is factored into the capital structure, subject to underwriting and to the requested capital and the aircraft's verified value supporting it.

By Category

Can You Borrow Against a Private Jet, Turboprop, Helicopter, or Aircraft Portfolio?

Select aircraft across several categories may be reviewed. In every case, ownership, title, technical records, TLN's valuation, and underwriting apply, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.

Light and Midsize Business Jets

Light and midsize jets are among the most actively traded aircraft, which can support a review. What matters is ownership and clear title, hours and cycles, maintenance and inspection status, engine or maintenance-program coverage, records, and current market demand rather than the model name alone.

Large-Cabin and Long-Range Jets

Large-cabin and long-range jets may be reviewed, with particular weight on complete records, maintenance and inspection status, equipment and cabin systems, and documented condition given the values involved. A recent inspection often supports the review at this level.

Turboprops

Turboprops may be reviewed on make, model, year, engine time and overhaul status, maintenance tracking, condition, and market demand. Turboprops often have active secondary markets, though each aircraft is assessed on its own records and history.

Helicopters

Turbine and other qualifying helicopters may be reviewed, with attention to component and life-limited-part status, rotor and engine time, maintenance tracking, and market demand, alongside ownership, title, and any airworthiness items.

Select Piston Aircraft

Select high-value piston and significant vintage aircraft may be reviewed case by case, where there is documented condition, clear title, and recognized market demand. Thorough records and a documented history matter more here than category alone.

Specialty Aviation Assets

Certain specialty aviation assets may be reviewed where ownership, title, condition, and market demand are established. Uncertain title, incomplete records, or narrow demand weigh against a holding, and each is assessed individually.

Aircraft Owned Through Business Entities

Aircraft held through an LLC, trust, or other entity may be reviewed, with ownership and title verified at the entity level and the entity's authorized parties expected to participate. Entity structure and any co-ownership are part of the review.

Multi-Aircraft Portfolios

A qualifying multi-aircraft portfolio may be reviewed as a combined position, with each aircraft assessed individually for ownership, records, condition, and demand while the portfolio is weighed as a whole. Not every aircraft in a portfolio necessarily qualifies.

Eligible Aircraft

What Aircraft May Qualify

Select aircraft may be reviewed based on ownership, title, registration, technical records, maintenance status, hours and cycles, condition, damage history, equipment, market demand, TLN's valuation, and underwriting. Not exhaustive, and all aircraft are reviewed individually.

Light & Very Light Jets

Light and very light jets from recognized manufacturers may be reviewed. These aircraft have active secondary markets and comparable sales data, which can support a review, while engine or maintenance-program coverage, records, and condition all factor in. The model alone does not establish eligibility.

Midsize & Super-Midsize Jets

Midsize and super-midsize jets often represent an actively traded part of the pre-owned market, with comparable sales data that can support a review. Ownership and title, hours and cycles, maintenance status, records, and current demand are all weighed on each individual aircraft.

Large Cabin & Long-Range Jets

Large-cabin and long-range jets may be reviewed, with particular weight on complete records, maintenance and inspection status, equipment and cabin systems, and documented condition given the values involved. A recent inspection often supports the review at this level.

Turboprops

Single- and twin-engine turboprops from recognized manufacturers may be reviewed. Engine time and overhaul status, maintenance tracking, condition, and current demand are primary factors, and turboprops often maintain active secondary markets, though each aircraft is assessed on its own records.

Turbine Helicopters

Turbine helicopters from recognized manufacturers may be reviewed. Current component tracking, airworthiness-directive compliance, and time remaining on life-limited parts all matter, and rotor and engine time are weighed alongside maintenance records and market demand rather than model alone.

High-Value Piston & Vintage Aircraft

Significant vintage aircraft and high-value piston aircraft may be reviewed case by case. Thoroughly documented examples with recent condition inspections, clear title, and recognized collector or market demand are the strongest candidates, while incomplete records or uncertain title weigh against a review.

Valuation

What Determines Aircraft Collateral Value?

Aircraft valuation for capital purposes weighs many technical, ownership, and market factors together rather than any single number. No figure below is fixed or guaranteed.

Make, Model, Year & Serial Number
The specific aircraft, its year, and serial number are the starting point for identifying comparable transactions and current demand.
Ownership, Title & Registration
Clear, verifiable ownership and title are central. Registration supports identification but does not by itself establish clear ownership, and international registration can require additional review.
Airframe Hours & Cycles
Total time and cycles relative to comparable aircraft affect value, weighed alongside maintenance status rather than on their own.
Engine Time & Program Status
Engine hours, overhaul status, and any transferable engine or maintenance program are considered because they affect demand and liquidity. They can support value but do not guarantee terms.
Maintenance, Inspection & Logbooks
Maintenance-program enrollment, inspection status, and complete, continuous logbooks strengthen a review. Missing records can materially affect valuation.
Airworthiness & Directives
Airworthiness status and outstanding directives are weighed, but airworthiness status alone does not determine collateral value.
Damage & Repair History
Damage and repair history is evaluated in context, including the nature of the damage, quality and documentation of repairs, and any effect on airworthiness and demand.
Equipment, Avionics & Interior
Avionics, connectivity, modifications, supplemental type certificates, and interior and exterior condition all shape market positioning and value.
Operational & Geographic Factors
Operational history, location, and import or export status can affect demand, verification, and how readily an aircraft could transact.
Market Demand, Fleet Size & Comparables
Current demand, fleet size, comparable transactions, and wholesale and retail market data inform the analysis rather than any single listing.
Existing Liens & Market Liquidity
Any existing lien is factored into the structure, and how readily an aircraft could realistically transact bears directly on collateral value.
Independent Valuation & Underwriting
An independent specialist valuation ties these factors together with the transaction structure. It is not a guaranteed appraisal, and it is not the same as an insured value, an asking price, or the price originally paid.

Several figures are not the same. An aircraft's original purchase price, its insured value, an asking price, a broker opinion, an appraisal, its wholesale value, its retail market value, and its liquidation value can each differ, and none of them is automatically the collateral value. An appraisal is one input, not a guaranteed capital amount. Collateral value reflects TLN's valuation of what an aircraft may realistically support in the current market, subject to underwriting.

Records, Title & Airworthiness

How Ownership and Condition Are Reviewed

Technical records, title, and airworthiness all inform a review, but none of them alone determines collateral value or guarantees eligibility. Complete, continuous logbooks and maintenance records can strengthen a review, while missing records may materially affect valuation. Airworthiness status is considered but does not by itself set value, and maintenance-program enrollment may matter without guaranteeing terms.

Damage and repair history is evaluated in context rather than treated as an automatic disqualifier, and an appraisal is one input, not a guaranteed capital amount. Registration supports identification but does not alone establish clear ownership or title, and existing liens, title issues, or international registration may require additional review. Ownership and title are verified as part of the process, typically with a security interest recorded before funding.

Where a review benefits from it, TLN coordinates title work and an independent inspection through qualified specialists; the aircraft continues in normal operation in many arrangements, with insurance and maintenance parameters addressed in the agreement. TLN does not itself perform aircraft inspections, maintenance reviews, or title opinions, and it is not an aircraft dealer, broker, operator, maintenance provider, inspector, title company, insurer, aviation authority, or registry.

The Liquidity Network arranges private, asset-backed capital and does not imply affiliation with, endorsement by, or authorization from any aircraft manufacturer, aviation authority, registry, operator, maintenance provider, appraisal company, title company, insurer, or industry organization. Names are used only for accurate description.

What Strengthens a Review

Clear Ownership & Title
Verifiable ownership and title, free of unresolved disputes.
Complete Records
Continuous logbooks and maintenance tracking with few gaps.
Current Maintenance Status
Up-to-date inspections and airworthiness-directive compliance.
Documented Condition
A recent inspection and honest disclosure of damage or repairs.
Established Demand
An aircraft with an active, verifiable secondary market.

These support a review; none of them alone guarantees value or eligibility.

Documentation

What Information Helps With an Aircraft Review?

Complete documentation is not always required to begin a confidential review, but available records may help with ownership verification, title review, technical assessment, valuation, and underwriting. The more that is available, the more efficiently an aircraft can be assessed, and anything you do not have does not automatically end the conversation.

Helpful records include:

  • Make, model, year, serial number, and registration number
  • Ownership structure, title records, and registration records
  • Airframe hours and cycles, engine and APU details
  • Maintenance tracking reports and inspection status
  • Aircraft, engine, and propeller logbooks, and damage and repair history
  • Equipment and avionics list, and any engine or maintenance-program records
  • Interior and exterior photographs and a recent appraisal, if available
  • Purchase documents and any existing lien information
  • Insurance information, storage or hangar location, and operator information where relevant
  • Import or export documentation where relevant

You can see where records fit in what happens after an aircraft is submitted, and the questions about title, records, valuation, and custody cover many of the practical points owners raise before submitting.

Title, Inspection & Closing

Aircraft transactions turn on clear title and verified condition. Where appropriate, TLN coordinates a title search and an independent inspection through qualified specialists, and a security interest is typically recorded before funding. The specifics depend on the aircraft, its records, and the transaction.

In many arrangements the aircraft continues in normal operation during the term, with insurance, maintenance, and operating parameters addressed in the agreement. Closing timing depends on title work, any inspection, verification, and documentation rather than a fixed schedule.

Portfolios and Related Assets

A qualifying multi-aircraft portfolio may be reviewed as a combined position, each aircraft assessed on its own. Owners with other transportation assets may also explore financing secured by a qualifying vessel, reviewed separately from an aircraft arrangement.

Borrow vs. Sell

Borrowing Against an Aircraft vs. Selling It

Selling and borrowing are different tools, and neither is automatically the better choice. Selling converts an aircraft to cash permanently and can make sense when an owner no longer needs the aircraft. It also means parting with it, working through broker and marketplace timing, incurring transaction expenses, and taking on the challenge of replacing the aircraft later.

Borrowing against a qualifying aircraft lets an owner retain ownership, maintain business or personal use where the transaction permits, and avoid an immediate liquidation while addressing a separate need or opportunity. It carries its own considerations: financing costs, inspections and due diligence, insurance, any custody or control requirements, storage, and ongoing maintenance obligations, along with default risk. In the event of default, the pledged aircraft may be subject to loss.

Timing and business continuity often shape the decision. An owner who relies on the aircraft, or who does not want to sell into a soft market, may prefer to explore alternatives to immediately selling a significant asset. Others may prefer a sale, and it is worth weighing both against your own circumstances. There is more on private-capital considerations for owners of significant assets for those working through the same decision.

Considerations

Retaining Ownership
Keep the aircraft, and its use where the transaction permits, rather than parting with it.
Timing
Avoid the timeline of a brokered sale or selling into a soft market.
Business Continuity
Address a need without disrupting operations or facing a replacement search.
Costs & Obligations
Financing, inspection, insurance, storage, and maintenance costs apply.
Default Risk
In the event of default, the pledged aircraft may be subject to loss.
Why TLN

A Discreet, Coordinated Process

Confidential Review

Submissions and discussions are handled privately, with ownership and title review and technical-record assessment. Your aircraft is not publicly listed or marketed.

Independent Aviation Valuation

Aircraft are assessed through independent specialist valuation, weighing records, maintenance status, condition, and comparable transactions rather than any single figure.

Coordinated Title, Inspection & Custody

Title review, inspection coordination, insurance, and documented, compliant closing are arranged with qualified specialists, so the transaction is handled securely.

The Process

Three Steps to Capital

01

Submit Your Aircraft

Share the make, model, year, and registration, along with total time, engine and maintenance status, and any records you have. Nothing is required to begin a confidential review, and available documentation helps the assessment move more efficiently.

02

Confidential Review and Valuation

A specialist reviews ownership, title, technical records, maintenance status, condition, and comparable market data, and a valuation by TLN is prepared. An inspection or additional records may be requested for larger transactions.

03

Receive a Preliminary Capital Offer

Qualified submissions may receive a preliminary capital offer following ownership and title review, technical-record assessment, condition review, TLN's valuation, and underwriting. Final eligibility and terms are subject to documentation and review.

Discuss Your Aircraft or Aviation Portfolio

Submit your aircraft for a confidential review. Qualified submissions may receive a preliminary capital offer following ownership and title review, technical-record assessment, valuation, and underwriting. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.

Common Questions

Aircraft Lending FAQ

Can I borrow against a private jet without selling it?
Yes. Aircraft collateral financing is structured so the aircraft remains your property throughout the arrangement, typically with TLN holding a security interest during the term. Whether a specific aircraft qualifies depends on ownership, title, technical records, condition, market demand, TLN's valuation, and underwriting, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can turboprops be used as collateral?
Turboprops may be reviewed based on make, model, year, hours and cycles, maintenance status, records, condition, and market demand. Not every turboprop qualifies, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can helicopters be reviewed?
Turbine and other qualifying helicopters may be reviewed, with attention to component and life-limited-part status, maintenance tracking, records, and market demand alongside ownership and title. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can TLN review an aircraft portfolio?
Yes. A single aircraft or a qualifying multi-aircraft portfolio may be submitted, with each aircraft assessed individually and the portfolio weighed as a whole. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
How much can I borrow against an aircraft?
There is no fixed figure or percentage. Potential capital depends on verified market value, ownership, title, hours and cycles, maintenance and inspection status, records, damage history, equipment, market demand, market liquidity, any existing liens, underwriting, and how the arrangement is structured. Every submission is reviewed individually, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Does an appraisal determine collateral value?
No. An appraisal is one input, not a determination of collateral value or a guaranteed capital amount. Independent valuation also weighs technical records, maintenance status, condition, comparable transactions, and market demand. Collateral value may differ from an appraisal, an insured value, an asking price, or the price originally paid.
Do complete logbooks affect value?
Yes. Complete, continuous logbooks and maintenance records can strengthen a review, while missing or incomplete records may materially affect valuation and how the aircraft is assessed. Records support a review but do not by themselves guarantee eligibility, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can aircraft with missing records be reviewed?
An aircraft with gaps in its records may still be reviewed, but missing records can materially affect valuation and may require additional documentation. Each aircraft is assessed on its own, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
How do airframe hours and cycles affect value?
Airframe hours and cycles are among several factors in valuation. Lower time relative to comparable aircraft can support value, but hours and cycles are weighed together with maintenance status, condition, equipment, and market demand rather than on their own. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
How does engine time affect value?
Engine time, overhaul status, and any transferable engine-program coverage are considered because they affect market demand and liquidity. They can support value but do not guarantee terms, and each aircraft is reviewed on its own merits. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Do maintenance programs affect review?
Enrollment in a transferable maintenance or engine program may support a review because it can affect market demand and liquidity, but it does not by itself guarantee eligibility or terms. It is weighed alongside records, condition, and valuation. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can aircraft with damage history be reviewed?
An aircraft with a damage or repair history may still be reviewed, evaluated in context, including the nature of the damage, the quality and documentation of repairs, and any effect on airworthiness and market demand. Damage history is a factor, not an automatic disqualifier, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Does the aircraft need to be airworthy?
Airworthiness status is considered but does not by itself determine collateral value. A non-airworthy or project aircraft may be more difficult to support, and any outstanding airworthiness or regulatory items are weighed in the review. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can aircraft with existing liens be reviewed?
An existing lien does not automatically disqualify an aircraft. Where a lien exists, the outstanding balance is factored into the capital structure, subject to underwriting and to the requested capital and the aircraft's verified value supporting it. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Can internationally registered aircraft be reviewed?
Internationally or foreign-registered aircraft may be reviewed, though international registration and title can require additional review of ownership, registration, and transferability. Each case is assessed individually, and eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
What happens to the aircraft during the arrangement?
In many arrangements the aircraft continues in normal operation during the term, with TLN holding a security interest and specific parameters such as insurance and maintenance addressed in the agreement. In the event of default, the pledged aircraft may be subject to loss.
Can jointly owned aircraft be reviewed?
Jointly or entity-owned aircraft may be reviewed, and all owners of record, or the owning entity's authorized parties, are generally expected to consent and participate in verifying ownership and title. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
How quickly can an aircraft-backed request be reviewed?
Initial review is typically within one business day, depending on the aircraft, available documentation, ownership and title verification, and valuation complexity. Timing, eligibility, and terms are not guaranteed, and closing timing depends on title work, any inspection, verification, and documentation.
Does a famous manufacturer guarantee eligibility?
No. A recognized manufacturer or model does not guarantee eligibility. Each aircraft is assessed on ownership, title, records, maintenance status, condition, and market demand, and not every aircraft from a given manufacturer qualifies. Eligibility and terms are not guaranteed.
Is insured value the same as collateral value?
No. Insured value, purchase price, asking price, and appraised value can each differ from collateral value. Collateral value reflects TLN's valuation of what an aircraft may realistically support in the current market, subject to underwriting.
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