VREF | The Truth About the Aviation Market

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF, ASA appraiser, expert witness, 30+ years in aviation.

Topic: The messy middle between accepted offer and title transfer—what’s supposed to happen, what actually happens, how deals go off the rails, and how to protect yourself.

Episode Summary

Jason pulls the curtain back on the transaction phase: LOIs, deposits, pre-buys, escrow, title and liens, and closing mechanics. You’ll learn why “time kills deals,” the most common failure points, and how psychology, paperwork, and poor preparation can turn a routine purchase into a costly, month-long fight. Jason also walks...

Duration: 00:24:04

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Summary

In one of the most revealing episodes yet, Jason pulls back the curtain on three of the aviation industry’s most misunderstood—and often misused—practices: off-market aircraft, back-to-back transactions, and the broker’s role in 2025. He explains why these deals tempt buyers and sellers alike with promises of speed, exclusivity, and discretion—and why, more often than not, they lead straight into confusion, inflated prices, and even fraud.

Drawing on decades of hands-on experience as a dealer, appraiser, and expert witness, J...

Duration: 00:20:48

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Summary

In one of the most revealing episodes yet, Jason pulls back the curtain on three of the aviation industry’s most misunderstood—and often misused—practices: off-market aircraft, back-to-back transactions, and the broker’s role in 2025. He explains why these deals tempt buyers and sellers alike with promises of speed, exclusivity, and discretion—and why, more often than not, they lead straight into confusion, inflated prices, and even fraud.

Drawing on decades of hands-on experience as a dealer, appraiser, and expert witness, J...

Duration: 00:20:48

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Overview

In this episode of The Truth About the Market, Jason turns the spotlight on the aviation community itself. Drawing from the latest VREF Market Sentiment Survey, which gathered responses from over 1,000 buyers, sellers, brokers, lenders, and operators, he breaks down what people across the industry are seeing, feeling, and planning for as 2025 comes to a close.

From shifting inventory trends and rising operating costs to tightening loan conditions and the widening gap between buyer optimism and seller expectations, Jason walks through...

Duration: 00:32:59

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Introduction

“Can I afford that airplane?” Jason tackles the question he hears every week—moving past listing prices to the real math behind financing structures, down payments, LTV, amortization, liquidity and net-worth requirements, fixed vs. variable operating costs, and practical rules of thumb. With real aircraft examples and monthly/annual budget breakdowns, this episode shows how to evaluate affordability without getting blindsided.

Topics Covered

1) Myth-Busting: Asking Price ≠ Affordability

Affordability = (Upfront cash) + (Financing terms) + (Ongoing operating costs).Airplanes are more like com...

Duration: 00:30:29

Introduction

A single dent can erase seven figures from a jet’s value. In this episode, Jason unpacks one of aviation’s most misunderstood—and expensive—topics: damage. Drawing on decades of appraising, federal litigation experience, and a personal war story (a Lear 45 tail strike in a hangar), he explains why damage isn’t a checkbox or a one-size deduction. It’s a nuanced blend of market psychology, documentation, repair quality, and timing—and getting it wrong can cost millions.

Topics Covered

1) Why Damage Matters (and What It Isn’t)

Diminution of value ≠ airworth...

Duration: 00:28:08

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Introduction

Jason pulls back the curtain on aircraft valuation—what it is, what it isn’t, and how bad inputs (or bad actors) can warp the number you’re relying on. Building on Episode 2 (bonus depreciation myths and popularity traps), this episode shows exactly how to value an aircraft and how the new VREF software makes the process transparent, defensible, and repeatable for buyers, sellers, brokers, lenders, and insurers.

Topics Covered

1) Why Aircraft Valuation Is Harder Than Cars, RVs, or Boats<...

Duration: 00:29:28

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Introduction

In this episode of The Truth About the Market, VREF CEO Jason Zilberbrand pulls apart two of the biggest myths driving poor aircraft buying decisions: the illusion of “free jets” through bonus depreciation, and the herd mentality of chasing the most popular aircraft rather than the one that fits your mission and budget.

Jason brings over three decades of valuation expertise and market cycle experience to expose the hard truths behind aircraft ownership—and why Instagram hype, LinkedIn posts, and sales pitche...

Duration: 00:16:20

Host: Jason Zilberbrand, President of VREF Aircraft Value Reference & Appraisal Services

Introduction

Hi everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of The Truth About the Market.

I'm your host, Jason Zilberbrand—President of VREF, long-time aviation appraiser, and someone who's spent over three decades deep in this industry. I've worked with everyone from individual owners to Fortune 50 operators. I've testified as an expert witness in major litigation. I've seen more cycles than I can count.

This podcast is about cutting through the BS—no fluff, no marketing spin, no sponsors. Just...

Duration: 00:26:12