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.

Brad Harris, president and CEO, Dallas Jet explains how he puts "make offer" on listings to make potential buyers contact his firm and start communicating.

In this interview, he explains how he started selling jets, why he loves building relationships and why AI will aid, but never take over aircraft sales.

Harris also explains how Shawn Dinning - now senior partner at Dallas Jet - got his job.

Jason Zilberbrand, president of VREF the aircraft valuation company, believes the pre-owned aircraft market is changing . He sees demand slowing, financing getting harder, high interest rates, and rising operational costs and geo-political uncertainty hitting values.

Zilberbrand also delves into his personal path from promoting punk concerts in college to working at JSSI, the company his father launched, launching a brokerage, and eventually acquiring VREF.

This week we were in the UAE for Corporate Jet Investor Dubai. One of the standout sessions was with Can Şaşmaz, CEO of Falcon. Şaşmaz joined Falcon - the aviation business of Alex Investments in 2024.

Falcon is aiming to grow all parts of its business - aircraft charter (Falcon Luxe), FBOs (Falcon Elite), maintenance (Falcon Technic) and trip planning (Falcon Flight Support).

But it is not looking for small growth. Şaşmaz wants Falcon to be the world's biggest business aviation. By 2030.

Luiz Sandler, the founder of Jet Match, takes us through the complexities of doing deals in Brazil (the world's second largest business jet market). Sandler started his business aviation career at Embraer and also sold new aircraft for Gulfstream.

He never thought he would end up as a salesperson and warns that it is a tough business: "Life is more about dealing with frustration than dealing with success."

Sandler discusses: the differences between selling new and pre-owned aircraft; how selling to entrepreneurs made him want to launch his own business; and why he did not staying as an airline pilot.

Alireza Ittihadieh founded Freestream Aircraft 33 years ago. In this open podcast he criticises rival aircraft brokers for undervaluing their expertise. "The dealer side is still rewarding but today, unfortunately, broking has become nothing more than a commodity," he says. "Today some companies treat you like you are providing toilet paper to the company."

Ittihadieh now focuses on dealing large business jets - buying them and then making a margin when you sell them on. He believes that there are just a handle of dealers who can really buy aircraft (not everyone will agree).

He also admits that he can get heated when negotiating aircraft: "It is all about mutual respect."