Pre-Owned Aircraft Market Shows Mixed Trends in May — Sandhills Global, Inc. (Sandhills Publishing)

Event summary

Used aircraft asking prices changed less than 2% month-over-month in May.
Global used jet aircraft inventory dropped 3.97% month-over-month and 16.28% year-over-year.
Used Robinson piston helicopter asking values rose 8.47% month-over-month and 4.79% year-over-year.
Turboprop aircraft inventory levels have been trending down for six consecutive months.

The big picture

The pre-owned aircraft market is experiencing mixed trends, with inventory levels declining for jets and turboprops while piston-single aircraft inventory levels increased month-over-month. The asking values for Robinson piston helicopters are trending up, indicating potential shifts in demand. These trends highlight the fragmented nature of the aviation market, where different segments are reacting differently to supply and demand dynamics. The Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) provides a critical gauge for monitoring these shifts, helping buyers and sellers make informed decisions.

What we're watching

Inventory Trends: Whether the downward trend in jet and turboprop inventory levels will continue and its impact on market dynamics.
Pricing Stability: How the marginal changes in asking prices will affect buyer and seller behavior in the pre-owned aircraft market.
Market Segmentation: The pace at which different aircraft segments (jets, piston-single, turboprops, helicopters) will diverge in inventory and pricing trends.