Career Opportunities

Thank you for visiting our Web Site today to discover the advantages of becoming a member of the National Aircraft Appraisers Association (NAAA).

The NAAA is the trade association and certifying authority for professional aircraft appraisers. Founded in 1980, the NAAA is the only working trade association for aircraft appraisers in the United States. The NAAA's sole purpose is to provide prompt, accurate information and services to its members and to the entire aviation community.

The NAAA and its 250 members set the standard of the aircraft appraisal process. We recognize that our honest, objective, totally professional approach to appraising aircraft will enhance our income opportunities. We inform aircraft buyers, sellers, their financial institutions, and others about the general condition and value of aircraft. We assist aircraft dealers and fixed base operators by attracting aircraft buyers and sellers as a result of the written aircraft appraisal.  We help financial institutions increase their aircraft portfolios by verifying that the collateral they are about to assume is valid.  

There are a myriad of reasons why aircraft are appraised on a regular basis.  As a member of the NAAA, you will be working with lending institutions, court systems, corporations, insurance companies, state and federal government agencies, individual aircraft buyers, and sellers.  Each of those entities has a need for your personal effort and expertise in appraising aircraft.  Each of them will depend on your total objectivity and independence in doing the job fairly and accurately.

NAAA members offer a unique service. Through the use of our software applications, databases, and research staff, association members are able to appraise aircraft at their current market value. This service offers your clients accurate and prompt appraisals at a reasonable cost.  Additionally, working within the only network of professional aircraft appraisers, you can provide aircraft appraisals for your clients almost anywhere in the nation while keeping the fees at a very reasonable level..

Opportunity:

Aircraft appraising has become the fastest growing area within the aviation industry. Although there are several reasons for this phenomenal growth, the primary reason affecting it is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The FDIC is the regulating agency for the commercial banking industry and, since the savings and loan crisis of the mid 1980s, has become far more attentive with regards to the type of documentation and loan practices of all lending institutions.  The FDIC's published guidelines for good operating practices require all banks making loans to gather evidence of the fair market value of the collateral being financed. The form of evidence to which this agency refers is an appraisal. 

Buyers and sellers who have an interest in knowing the true market value of an aircraft are potential clients.  Also, those who are upgrading their aircraft will need appraisals for refinancing.  Insurance companies, flying clubs, lawyers, and others need professional appraisers to aid them in evaluating aircraft thus leading to an ongoing business as well as a significant income.  You can apply the aviation skills you have developed along with new skills you will learn in ways that will create real opportunity in aircraft appraisal.

Fees & Membership: The National Aircraft Appraisers Association provides its services to members only. There is a one time charge for the software application which is $600.00. Additionally, there is an annual membership dues of $750.00 per year which is the membership shared cost of operating the Association. This fee includes all of the services the NAAA provides to its members including the monthly updates of  the aircraft data.

NOTE: The annual dues can be paid by credit card on a monthly basis of $65.00 per month. If the application for membership is declined the $600.00 software payment will be returned promptly.

Do You Qualify For Membership?

Our standards require that applicants for membership possess the experience level outlined in at any one of the fields listed below:

#1.  To join NAAA based on Pilot Experience - An applicant must have a minimum of 1,500 hours total flying time, of which 500 hours is multi-engine time.  He/she must also possess a commercial pilot certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings.  A management background in aviation is a plus.

#2.  To join NAAA based on Mechanical Experience - An applicant must have at least two years as a working A&P mechanic not including time spent in school.

#3.  To join NAAA based on Aircraft Sales Experience - An applicant must have at least three years experience working as a sales person at a recognized aircraft sales organization.  The experience must be verified in writing by the organization.  Claiming to be a self-employed aircraft broker for three years does not meet the requirement.

Members from outside the United States are welcome.  However, they must speak, read, and write English.

How do you join NAAA?

To join the National Aircraft Appraisers Association, fill out the membership application that can be found by clicking on the link below.  Mail it along with your check for $600, Master Card or Visa card number and expiration date to the address below.  If you intend to pay your dues annually then you must send a check for $1,350 or signify that you wish to charge the entire amount to your credit card on your application.  There is no charge for applying.  If you are not accepted for any reason your check will be promptly returned and/or your credit card information will be destroyed. 

The National Aircraft Appraisers Association is currently expanding its membership and we believe once you have sized the market and profit opportunity, you will want to join us..

Obviously, it is not easy to explain all of the benefits of being a member of the Association. However, once you study the appraising manual, receive the software application, and identify with all of the related material, we feel that you will then understand the future that is waiting for you in the field of aircraft appraisal. To get started, send in your membership application today and begin your rewarding new career in aircraft appraisal.

Levels of Appraisal Excellence:

There are four levels of membership within NAAA.  You will wish to become certified as soon as possible and advance rapidly through our programs so that you may take advantage of all levels of the appraisal business within your area. 

#1. Member.  With that designation you are in a learning state and only allowed to appraise the smallest aircraft. 

#2. Certified Aircraft Appraiser.  You receive that designation once you have completed our Level 1 (Basic Appraisal) course.  You are then authorized to write certified reports on any piston engine aircraft that are in our databases.

#3.  Senior Certified Aircraft Appraiser.  You receive that designation once you have completed our Level 2 (Senior Appraisal) course.  You are then authorized to write certified reports on any piston or turbine aircraft that are in our databases. 

#4.  Senior Certified Aircraft Appraiser/USPAP Endorsed.  You receive that designation, the highest level attainable in appraisal practice, once you have completed our USPAP course.  USPAP is used for work in legal cases and is required by high end financial institutions who lease or finance large corporate aircraft.

Members are required to know and understand our ethics guidelines and requirements.  To review them please click here.

Appraising Manual:

The Association has developed a complete on-line appraising manual  which covers in detail every aspect relating to aircraft appraising and running a business. The manual contains 6 sections that describe the day to day business processes such as office procedures, filing reports, marketing, and the appraisal process. The manual gives detailed instructions on evaluating each of the aircraft components such as: airframe, engines, avionics, propellers, damage history, paint, interior, airframe and engine modifications, AD inspection status, etc.

Software Application:

The following is a brief description of the required equipment and the computer application:

a) Required Equipment

  • Laptop or PC, IBM compatible.

  • Windows 98 or higher operating system

  • 8 megabytes hard drive space

  • High quality printer, preferably ink-jet or laser (this is for documentation and picture quality).

  • Digital Camera

b) Application Description

  • Screen #1 requires the appraiser to identify himself/herself as a registered, licensee for the use of this application. The password is determined by the member.

    1. Client Information

    2. Aircraft Description

    3. Aircraft Maintenance a). Damage History b). Inspection Status

    4. Aircraft Condition

    5. Airframe and Engine Modifications

    6. Engines and Propellers

    7. Aircraft Avionics

    8. Aircraft Instrumentation

    9. Additional Equipment

    10. De-Icing Systems

    11. Appraisers Comments

    12. Compute Appraisal

    13. Print Report

    14. Print Certificate

    15. Open Existing Appraisal

    16. Close Appraisal

    17. Save Appraisal

    18. Exit.

c) When clicking on each of the above buttons, a screen with a drop down menu opens allowing you to enter the information. All entries, with the exception of addresses, phone numbers, etc. are point and click type of entries. For example, clicking on the button "Aircraft Description" opens a screen which list all of the aircraft manufacturers. When you click on a specific manufacturer, the screen shows all of the aircraft models that company manufactured. After selecting the model, then entering the year, serial number, N number will be entered and so on.

d) The application is written with three specific goals in mind:

  • Ease of use. This application is 100% user friendly. Each screen is self-explanatory.

  • Quick and fail proof. The application is written in such a way that a minimum amount of typing is required. Additionally, the computer simply will not allow a report to run unless all required entry areas are complete. This insures that a mistake by omission cannot occur.

  • The application is also designed to be used as a selling tool. The ability to take a laptop into your clients office and demonstrate the appraisal application is indeed impressive.

If you have any questions, please give us a call.

National Aircraft Appraisers Association.
7 West Square Lake Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI  48302
(248) 758-2333

Career Opportunities Index:


Home | Aircraft Appraisal | Contact | Members Only | Career Opportunities