“As Is, Where Is” When Selling Your Aircraft – What It Really Means
If you’ve been around aircraft sales for a while, you’ve probably heard the term “As Is, Where Is”. Some sellers use it, and some buyers get nervous when they hear it. But what does it actually mean?
It’s Not a Dodgy Sales Tactic
“As Is, Where Is” simply means the aircraft is being sold in its current condition, with no guarantees or warranties from the seller. The buyer is responsible for inspecting the aircraft and accepting it in the state it’s in at the time of sale.
This is a very common and accepted way of selling aircraft, especially when the seller doesn’t want to spend more time and money fixing things before the sale.
Why Sellers Use “As Is, Where Is”
There are a few good reasons why many aircraft owners choose to sell this way:
- They don’t want to invest more money into an aircraft they’re selling
- They want to avoid arguments later about things the buyer “should have noticed”
- It protects the seller from buyers who try to negotiate the price down after finding minor issues during inspection
It’s not about hiding problems. It’s about being clear that the buyer is responsible for doing their own due diligence.
What Buyers Should Expect
When an aircraft is sold “As Is, Where Is”, buyers should:
- Inspect the aircraft thoroughly before buying
- Review all maintenance records and logbooks
- Understand that the seller will not fix anything after the sale
- Only inspect what is reasonably accessible (buyers should not start dismantling parts without permission)
Sellers have every right to stop buyers from going too far with inspections. For example, if a buyer starts opening panels with torches and mirrors without approval, the seller can politely say:
“I didn’t offer a full pre-purchase inspection. You came to have a look. Do you want to proceed or not?”
A Simple Example
A friend of mine was selling a golf buggy. Two buyers turned up with torches and mirrors and spent over two hours crawling all over it, inspecting every little detail. Eventually, he said:
“I’ve asked you guys to buy it, not give it a service!”
They laughed, stopped inspecting, and ended up buying it.
The same principle applies to aircraft. Reasonable inspection is fine. Excessive dismantling without commitment is not.
Bottom Line
Selling an aircraft “As Is, Where Is” is a fair and normal way to sell — as long as you’re honest about the condition and have the maintenance records available. It protects you from time wasters and buyers who try to chip away at the price after the fact.
Just be clear in your advertising and during inspections, and you’ll avoid most problems.