Aviation finance for aircraft, helicopters and drones

Yes. Lenders can fund major maintenance such as engine overhauls and avionics upgrades, either as a loan or by refinancing an aircraft you already own. If the aircraft is already under a finance agreement, speak to your existing lender first, as some agreements restrict further borrowing against the asset.

There is no single figure, because lenders set their own criteria for each aircraft and borrower. The deposit usually depends on the aircraft's age, type and resale market, how it will be used, its maintenance history and your business's trading record. Older, rarer or highly specialised aircraft tend to need a larger contribution, while a well-documented aircraft with a strong second-hand market and an established operator may need less.

Lenders usually ask for the aircraft's logbooks, maintenance and inspection records, airworthiness documents, registration details and an insurance quote, alongside your business accounts and bank statements. Gaps in the records make an aircraft harder to value and to resell, which can reduce what a lender will advance. The Civil Aviation Authority sets the registration and airworthiness requirements that lenders expect an aircraft to meet.

It is possible, but lenders look harder at a business without accounts. They focus on the owners' aviation experience, the business plan, any contracts or student bookings, the deposit available and the aircraft's resale value. A personal guarantee is likely, and some lenders may limit the amount or term until a trading record builds. Our page on start-up business loans covers funding for new businesses more generally.

Yes, commercial drones and their cameras and sensors can usually be funded through hire purchase or leasing, much like other business equipment. Because the technology changes quickly and resale values fall faster than for crewed aircraft, lenders tend to prefer shorter terms. Survey and filming firms often fund drones as part of a wider equipment package. See our guide to asset finance for how these agreements work.

Yes, you can use our asset finance calculator to estimate monthly repayments on an aircraft by entering the amount to borrow, an indicative rate and the term. Treat the result as a guide only. The lender sets the actual rate, deposit and term after reviewing the aircraft's type, age, hours and records, and your business accounts, so the final figure can differ.

Both can lend on aircraft. Some banks fund aircraft through their asset finance divisions, usually for established businesses and widely traded types, while specialist aviation and asset funders tend to be more flexible on older, rarer or higher-value aircraft and helicopters. Which suits you depends on the aircraft, your deposit and your trading record, which is why we approach several lenders on our panel rather than one.

Often, yes, though not every lender will fund a private sale. Those that do will want proof that the seller owns the aircraft outright, checks that no mortgage or finance is registered against it, full logbooks and maintenance records, and usually an independent survey. Funds are normally paid to the seller, or to settle any existing finance, once title, insurance and the lender's security are in place.