Aircraft asking values remained steady in January following seasonal inventory drawdowns, according to Sandhills Global’s newest aviation market reports. Used turboprop aircraft values experienced the most change, ticking up slightly month over month in January. Sandhills’ market reports cover the used jet, piston single, and turboprop aircraft categories, as well as Robinson piston helicopters, in Sandhills marketplaces.

“Inventory drawdowns are typical around the turn of the calendar year,” Brant Washburn, department manager for Controller, an aviation product from Sandhills, said. “For jets and piston single aircraft in particular, we expect used inventory to regain some of those seasonal losses over the next few months.”

The key metric used in all of Sandhills’ market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets as well as model year equipment actively in use. Effective with the January EVI, Sandhills introduced version enhancements and weighted adjustments. All historic EVI metrics were amended and recalculated back to 2005, and all calendar year 2024 EVI releases will include these enhancements; as a result, prior numbers will not be comparable to the new values.

Global Used Jets

• Used jet inventory decreased 8.65% month over month in January, but levels were 11.13% higher than last year and are currently trending sideways.
• Asking values ticked up 0.33% month over month and down 0.98% year over year in January and are trending sideways.

U.S. and Canadian Used Piston Single Aircraft

• Sandhills observed significant decreases in used piston single aircraft inventory levels in January, down 10.83% month over month and 20.1% year over year. Inventory levels are trending down.
• Asking values dipped 0.34% lower month over month, increased 1.69% year over year and are trending down.

U.S. and Canadian Used Turboprop Aircraft

• As seen in the used piston single category, in January, inventory levels of used turboprop aircraft experienced a significant decrease in month-over-month inventory levels at 15.28%. Inventory in this category was higher than last January, however, up 2.27% year over year. Inventory levels are trending sideways.
• Asking values were up 4.27% month over month and 1.66% year over year and are trending up.

Global Used Robinson Piston Helicopters

• Inventory levels in this category decreased 3.28% month over month in January but were 11.32% higher year over year.
• Asking values decreased 0.29% month over month but rose 2.29% year over year. This category is trending sideways overall, with sideways movement in inventory and slowly increasing asking values.