Its One Of The Biggest Purchases In A Pilot's Lifetime... So Why Not Learn From The Pros?

A little over a year and half ago, we undertook the biggest purchase of our lives... more expensive than any house we've ever owned, we cast fate to the wind and sunk a huge chunk of cash in a Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo demo bird... and while it wasn't the only time we've ever bought an airplane, it was definitely the scariest. Simply put, we'd NEVER spent that kind of money before... and the ability to consult with a number of experienced pros (like Jaime) was the only reason the whole deal ultimately came off.

You can't get enough advice from serious professional sources... and so when we had the chance to interview one of the most experienced aircraft sales operations in the business, Steel Aviation, we started off with a basic interview about the true nature of such an undertaking requires. Jaime Steel grew up with these concerns foremost in her life... Jaime cut her teeth in this industry while working at her father’s company, Air Cover, Inc.

At age eighteen, Jaime began custom designing the interiors of aircraft and designing the exterior paint schemes to match. In other words, she became an expert. Planes were torn apart and rebuilt under her nose. Jaime has consulted with such clients as Patty Wagstaff, Bob Seeger, and even Kid Rock. Then in late 2002, Jaime decided it was time to spread her wings, and to leave the family nest in order to realize her own dreams.

In the past few years, Jaime has established Steel Aviation, Inc as the #1 Cirrus aircraft reseller in the United States, by selling and acquiring more pre-owned Cirrus aircraft for her clients than any other dealer/broker in the country. This is a major accomplishment in a 'business where reputation is not everything it is the ONLY thing that speaks volumes about Jaime's ability to get the job done.'

Her knowledge and professionalism have been referenced time and time again within the Cirrus community as well as several others... so ANN was pleased to get some time with her for this interview with a promise to follow up with a future series of interviews in which we will discuss more of the true highs and lows of buying and selling airplanes.

FMI: www.steelaviation.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews