The Corporate Jet Investor podcast features Ben Shirazi, founder and owner of Smart Jets, who shares his extensive experience in the business aviation industry. Ben discusses his early start in the family business, selling his first aircraft before turning 18, and the evolution of his ventures - Smart Jets for aircraft brokerage and VIP Completions for cabin retrofitting. He emphasises the importance of trust, value-driven acquisitions, and the increasing demand for advanced connectivity and customised interiors in private jets. Ben also touches on the cyclical nature of the industry, the impact of tax incentives like bonus depreciation, and the challenges of hiring skilled labour in completions. Offering advice to first-time buyers, he emphasises the importance of understanding operational costs and maintenance forecasts. The conversation provides valuable insights into the complexities and rewards of the business aviation world.

In this episode of the Corporate Jet Investor podcast, Alasdair Whyte chats with Garrett Jerde, founder of JetHQ, about his unexpected journey from aspiring airline pilot to launching one of business aviation’s fastest-growing brokerages. Garrett explains how an internship at Raytheon Aircraft ignited his passion for corporate aviation, leading him around the world - delivering aircraft, navigating economic turbulence, and ultimately founding JetHQ in Dubai at the age of 28.

He discusses his early entry into international markets, the thrill of complex cross-border deals, and the guidance of industry veteran Ted Farid, who then played a vital role in JetHQ’s early expansion. Now overseeing a global team of 42, Garrett shares the value of knowing your strengths and why he still thrives on the challenge of selling jets.

For him, every day brings new opportunities disguised as problems - that's what keeps him going and he wants to encourage the next generation and as many people from across the globe as possible.

Thanks Garett for your insights!

This recorded Corporate Jet Investor Town Hall session dives into bonus depreciation for business aircraft, featuring insights from tax and aviation experts Ryan D’Amour (MySky), Angel Hook (Hook & Christensen), and David Shannon (Lewis Brisbois). The panel explains how the 100% first-year tax deduction works, emphasising that it should only factor into purchases when the aircraft is truly needed for business—not as a standalone incentive. Key considerations include strict IRS compliance (like meeting annual 25-50% business-use thresholds), avoiding pitfalls like passive income limitations or improper documentation, and planning for future tax implications upon resale. The discussion also covers timing (delivery and first flight must occur by year-end), structuring deals correctly, and why early consultation with aviation-savvy CPAs and attorneys is critical. With bonus depreciation now permanent, the experts predict a surge in Q4 transactions but caution against rushed decisions without proper tax and operational planning.