LEASING, BUYING AND CHARTERING AIRCRAFT
The aviation community is comprised of companies of all sizes using all types of aircraft from single pilot aircraft to complex turbine aircraft capable of global reach. According to recent statistics from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), almost all of the customers in this community are small to mid-size businesses and other smaller-scale entities. The number of business aviation customers continues to rise because time is a finite resource. The use of private, business or charter aviation allows executives and high-net-worth individuals to make maximum use of it. A recently sponsored NBAA study found a 34 percent increase in business aircraft operations over the past five years, and an estimated doubling of flight hours during the next two decades. Whether you operate one aircraft or fleets, run a charter or management company, or are considering starting a flight department, LeClairRyan s General, Business and Charter Aviation team can help you reach your goals. Our team can assist with: Regulatory compliance, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Cape Town Convention registration and filings, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, certification, filings and reporting; Aviation transactions, including: Aircraft and engine purchases, sales and leasing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul agreements Aircraft hangaring, renovation and completion Asset based financing agreements Aircraft management agreements Charter operations Mergers and acquisitions International aviation operations compliance, including treaties and protocols Tax advice SEC compliance FAA Registration and Ownership issues Employment and labor laws Risk and insurance issues, including: Risk assessment and management Aviation, hull and liability insurance and other coverage issues such as premises liability, workers compensation and directors and officers insurance Emergency preparedness (including ERPs) and crisis response Resolution of insured claims Business aviation security Hazardous materials and environmental law Aircraft accident and incident investigations, including National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations Regulatory and enforcement matters involving FAA, DOT and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) actions Dispute resolution and litigation, including lease defaults and redelivery disputes 2
A Top Flight Legal Team Our attorneys know every aspect of the aviation sector. Several members of our team have worked at federal regulatory agencies, and we have years of experience representing private operators, flight departments, international, national and regional airlines, charter companies, aviation service providers, manufacturers, aircraft leasing companies and developers of a range of aircraft and aerospace vehicles, including business and private aircraft, helicopters, satellites and drones. A cross-section of this work includes: Handled a variety of aviation and aircraft finance transactions including large syndicated financings for several airlines secured by air frames, engines, flight equipment, and domestic and international airport slots, gates and routes Handled asset based financings and sale leasebacks of individual and fleets of aircraft, as well as acquisition financings backed by ExIm Bank guarantees. General counsel for aviation businesses, including a Part 135 CARB-certified air carrier, and an FAA-certified international avionics manufacturer Counsel to buyers and sellers in dozens of international transactions, including mergers and acquisitions involving aviation businesses, and sales and leasing of jets, turbo-props, and rotary-wing aircraft for both commercial and private use Represented individuals and businesses in litigation and in administrative matters before various agencies including DSS, DDTC, the NTSB, the FAA and CBP Our attorneys are nationally recognized for our experience: Member of the Regulatory Issues Advisory Group for the National Business Aircraft Association, Secretary of the Aviation Section of the Texas State Bar, Chair of the General Business and Charter Aviation Committee of the ABA s Forum on Air and Space Law Listed in a number of highly respected legal directories, including Euromoney s World s Leading Aviation Lawyers, Chambers USA, The Legal 500, The International Who s Who of Aviation Lawyers and New York Super Lawyers Co-authored several editions of Chapter 31 USA, The International Comparative Legal Guide to Aviation Law 2016 Our team s Plane-ly Spoken blog is widely read around the world 3
CONTACTS: Roger S. Chari 212.430.8024 roger.chari@leclairryan.com Allan Horowitz 703.248.7008 allan.horowitz@leclairryan.com James A. Eastwood 703.248.7006 james.eastwood@leclairryan.com Mark Dombroff 703.248.7002 mark.dombroff@leclairryan.com William Janicki 916.246.1149 william.janicki@leclairryan.com Diane Westwood Wilson 212.430.8049 diane.wilson@leclairryan.com Christa Hinckley 713.752.8324 christa.hinckley@leclairryan.com Darcy Osta 703.647.5930 darcy.osta@leclairryan.com 4
WWW.LECLAIRRYAN.COM 2019 LeClairRyan PLLC. All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising materials. These materials have been prepared by LeClairRyan for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel in the reader s home jurisdiction. As used herein, LeClairRyan refers to LeClairRyan PLLC, a Virginia professional limited liability company; LeClairRyan, LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership; and LeClairRyan, A Professional Corporation, a Michigan domestic professional service corporation. Thomas C. Regan is the Attorney in charge or LeClairRyan s Newark, NJ office.