FAQ

Stratus 9 helps clients acquire private aircraft that are strategically matched with real revenue-generating opportunities. These include charter operations, organ transport, medevac, government contracts, and dry leasing. We handle the full setup: sourcing the aircraft, identifying the most lucrative operational use case, modelling cash flows, and structuring the deal for optimal returns and compliance.

Our team works across several sectors, including private charter, time-sensitive cargo, medical transport, organ procurement logistics, and government/military subcontracts. Depending on aircraft type, location, and regulatory eligibility, we align each asset with the most efficient income channel.

Not at all. Stratus 9 provides a turnkey model. We handle setup, operator placement, regulatory compliance, and ongoing oversight. Our clients receive reporting and financials, but the day-to-day is managed by vetted operators and our internal team.

In most cases, yes. We design dual-purpose structures where owners can reserve personal use hours outside commercial availability. We factor personal use into the financial model to maintain investment performance and regulatory alignment.

We don’t sell access or hours — we structure ownership. Unlike fractional models or charter cards, our focus is on aligning aircraft with real business use and investor returns. Our clients own the aircraft directly (or via an entity) and benefit from tax advantages, equity growth, and recurring income.

We typically target annualised returns of 15–20% or higher, depending on the structure, aircraft, and mission profile. These returns include operational revenue and tax optimisation. Each deal includes conservative and aggressive scenarios to help you understand potential outcomes

We build pro forma financials based on historical market data, current operator demand, cost benchmarks, and seasonality. Each project includes revenue assumptions, operating costs, reserve allocations, and financing scenarios.

We work closely with aviation lenders offering traditional financing, leasing structures, and interest-only or balloon payment options. Financing can be tailored to your cashflow and tax needs. We also advise on entity structuring and collateral requirements.

Ongoing costs typically include insurance, maintenance, hangarage, crew (if not included via operator), and management oversight. These are incorporated into our cash flow models so you understand your total cost of ownership from day one.

Yes. We advise on hold period, market conditions, depreciation profiles, and resale timing. Some clients hold long-term for income; others sell after a few years, often following full bonus depreciation utilisation. We assist with resale positioning when the time comes.

Aircraft ownership can offer significant tax benefits when structured properly. For qualifying buyers, a large portion of the aircraft’s value can typically be written off in the first year, with the remainder depreciated over the next several years. This can result in major tax savings — especially when the aircraft is placed into commercial use. We work closely with your CPA to ensure the setup is aligned with current tax laws and your financial goals.

Yes — if structured correctly. Aircraft used predominantly for business (and placed into service within the year) may qualify for bonus depreciation. We work with your CPA to ensure the structure meets eligibility under IRC Section 168(k).

We recommend it. Most clients acquire their aircraft through a dedicated LLC or trust for liability protection, accounting clarity, and operational compliance. We help you set this up during the onboarding process.

Operational control remains with a licensed operator (Part 135 certificate holder) when the aircraft is flying commercially. We ensure compliance with FAA regulations by structuring all relationships transparently, including leasing arrangements, insurance, and crew management.

Each aircraft is fully insured under commercial policies. Liability is primarily covered by the operator’s policy when under their control. We advise clients on supplemental insurance and ensure their entity structure limits personal exposure.

We assess mission profile, expected utilisation, geography, budget, and compliance requirements. Some aircraft are better suited for light charter; others perform well in medevac or government use. Our team conducts this analysis before acquisition.

Clients are welcome to bring preferences — whether for business reasons or personal appeal. We advise candidly on what aircraft make sense from an investment standpoint and help find the best match based on availability and use case.

We build flexible structures. Aircraft can shift between use cases (charter to lease, for instance) or change operators. If an asset becomes underutilised, we explore repositioning, operator changes, marketing strategy updates, or even resale.

Absolutely. Each mission has optimal aircraft types. For instance, a Phenom 100 is great for short-hop charter, while a King Air 350 suits medevac or regional cargo. We only proceed once we’ve confirmed demand for the specific aircraft.

We work only with operators and maintenance teams who meet or exceed Part 135 standards. Aircraft are enrolled in maintenance tracking platforms, and all compliance, ADs, and inspections are logged and regularly reviewed.