EPISODE 3 | The Good, the Bad, and the Manipulated: How Aircraft Valuations Really Work | 9/12/25

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

• Small fleets, unique histories, and limited public sales data.
• “Comps” without context are dangerous—closing numbers rarely reveal the real configuration, condition, or concessions.

 ...