Private Jets for Sale in the USA

Expert Aircraft Brokerage for the American Market

The United States accounts for more business aviation activity than any other country on earth. With over 22,000 FAA-registered business jets and turboprops in active service, the American market is the reference point against which all others are measured. For buyers and sellers operating within this market, the sheer depth of inventory is both an advantage and a complication: there are always aircraft available, but identifying the right one — correctly priced, accurately represented, and clean in title — requires experience that goes beyond reviewing listings.

Aviator Aircraft Sales is a UK-based brokerage that has operated in international aircraft markets for many years. Our clients include private individuals, family offices, corporate flight departments, and Part 135 operators purchasing aircraft for commercial use. We work across both sides of the Atlantic as a matter of routine: sourcing US-registered aircraft for European buyers, representing UK and European sellers to qualified American purchasers, and assisting US-based clients who want access to inventory listed outside the major American databases.

American buyers and sellers deal with a regulatory environment that is well-established but detailed. FAA airworthiness requirements, N-number registration procedures, pre-purchase inspection standards, and the various tax structures that apply at both federal and state level all require careful navigation. We work with US aviation counsel and inspection facilities on transactions involving American-registered aircraft.

Whether you are a first-time aircraft buyer looking at light jets, a corporate operator upgrading to a large-cabin aircraft, or a European buyer seeking to purchase and import a US-registered machine, we can provide an independent assessment of the market, help you understand what a fair price looks like, and manage the transaction process through to delivery.

The US Business Aviation Market

The United States has the largest general and business aviation fleet in the world by a considerable margin. According to FAA data, there are approximately 220,000 general aviation aircraft registered in the country, of which business jets represent a significant and growing segment. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) tracks this market closely and has consistently reported that the US accounts for more than half of all business jet departures globally.

In terms of transaction volume, the US pre-owned business jet market sees several thousand aircraft change hands each year. Peak activity was recorded in 2021 and 2022 following the disruption of commercial aviation during the pandemic, when demand surged and inventory fell to historically low levels. Since then, the market has normalised: inventory has risen from the sub-3% availability rates seen at the peak, and asking prices have moderated, though they remain above pre-2020 levels on popular light and mid-size models.

The most traded aircraft types reflect the diversity of the buyer base. Light jets such as the Cessna Citation CJ series, Embraer Phenom 300, and Pilatus PC-24 are popular with owner-operators. Mid-size and super-mid-size aircraft — the Cessna Citation XLS+, Bombardier Challenger 350, and Embraer Legacy 500 — bridge the gap between efficiency and range. Large-cabin Gulfstream G550 and G650 variants continue to command strong values globally.

US Aircraft Registration and Regulations

Aircraft purchases in the United States are governed primarily by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). When a business jet changes hands domestically, the transaction requires a Bill of Sale submitted to the FAA Civil Aviation Registry in Oklahoma City, along with an Aircraft Registration Application. N-number registration is specific to the United States; non-US citizens who wish to hold a US-registered aircraft must typically do so through a qualifying trust arrangement with a US citizen trustee.

Operational regulations divide business aviation between Part 91 (non-commercial private operations) and Part 135 (commercial air taxi and charter). International buyers importing an aircraft from the US need to consider export Certificate of Airworthiness requirements, customs procedures, and in certain cases ITAR regulations controlling the export of specific avionics systems.

Tax Considerations for US Aircraft Purchases

State sales and use taxes are the most immediate concern for buyers: states including California, Florida, and New York impose sales taxes that can represent a meaningful percentage of the transaction value, while states such as Oregon and Montana impose no general sales tax. Federal tax incentives including Section 168(k) bonus depreciation have historically made aircraft ownership attractive for US businesses, though rates have been stepping down since 2023.