Choosing the right maintenance provider may be just as important as finding the right aircraft, and while selecting a maintenance facility may sound easy, it can drive costs up significantly. For example, an organisation with maintenance facilities at the same airport as your aircraft is based may seem to be the cheapest option available, but this could be only half the truth. If that company does not hold sufficient spare parts stock your aircraft could be grounded unnecessarily.

Another issue to be taken into account is whether your aircraft operates globally or is limited to a certain region; in the latter case, a small and flexible maintenance company dedicated to your aircraft type may be a better option than the globally operating enterprise.

However, in some cases size does matter, at least when we are talking about fleet size. Operators with large fleets may receive discounts and services that a single aircraft operator may not be able to procure from its maintenance partners.

Aircraft buyers should talk to their operators, maintenance managers or CAMOs to decide which option will best suit their needs. These parties should have the knowledge to talk over the options available and, as an aircraft owner, you should always seek to get an independent view.

Some aircraft operators are large enough to have their own mainten-ance departments. Even though this situation has certain advantages through the close connection, usually promoted as a one-stop-shop solution, it can have major disadvantages as maintenance costs are more or less uncontrolled and prices cannot be compared. Besides this, you could lose the leverage to get what you, as the aircraft owner, want from a maintenance provider.

I strongly recommend that any aircraft is enrolled on a support programme and the same consid-erations apply when making your choice, with a proper comparison of the costs, benefits and disadvantages of all options. It may seem incomprehensible to start paying from the first flight for events that may occur in future, but it does truly make sense as it equalises maintenance costs and removes unexpected bills from the equation, shifting them to direct operating costs.

As an aircraft owner you will know in detail what the expected costs per flight hour should be. Most aircraft are put up for sale after the warranty period and, at that point, those previous regular payments start to pay off, keeping the value of the aircraft up and helping resale. Some providers of 'power by the hour' agreements provide a payback option if the funds are not used.

Independent advice should always be sought, as not every programme will suit every need, with the options available less and less transparent for those who are not experts. Every salesperson wants to sell their product, be it a vacuum cleaner, a car, an aircraft or maintenance services and seeking independent advice could save you millions.

Find the exhibitor to maintain your aircraft

It's simple. Select your aircraft type from the drop down menu on our online EBACE guide and you can find a list of maintenance companies approved to provide services to you.