Aircraft Searches 🛩️

What is an Aircraft Search ?

When you do a search, it will tell you if the aircraft you're about to buy has a security interest registered against it meaning there could be money owing on it. If you buy an aircraft with money owing and the seller stops making repayments, the person or company that is owed the debt, (such as a bank or creditor), might be able to repossess the aircraft from you.

Note: Security interests in aircraft may also be registered under the ‘Cape Town Convention’.

What aircraft are included in a search ?

A VINNER PPSR aircraft search covers many types of aircraft, including:

• power-driven aeroplanes
• rotorcraft (e.g. helicopters)
• gliders
• hot air balloons
• motor-gliders
• airships

What type of Aircraft can I search on?

Aircraft Engine

Aircraft engine means engines (other than those used in military, customs or police services), powered by jet propulsion or turbine or piston technology, and:

• in the case of jet propulsion aircraft engines, have at least 1750 lb of thrust or its equivalent, and
• in the case of turbine-powered or piston-powered aircraft engines, have at least 550 rated take-off shaft horsepower or its equivalent,
• together with all modules and other installed, incorporated or attached accessories, parts and equipment.

Airframe

Airframe means airframe (other than those used in military, customs or police services) that, when appropriate aircraft engines are installed thereon, are certified by a competent aviation authority (in Australia, this is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to transport:

• at least eight (8) persons including crew, or
• goods in excess of 2750 kg,
• together with all modules and other installed, incorporated or attached accessories, parts and equipment and data manuals.

Small aircraft

Means aircraft other than an airframe, aircraft engine or helicopter.

Small aircraft generally includes any machine or craft that can travel in the air and has a nationality and registration mark assigned to it pursuant to the Chicago Convention.

E.g a hot air balloon with nationality and registration mark VH-ABC.

Helicopter

Helicopter means machines (other than those used in military, customs or police services) lifted by power-driven rotors and which are certified by a competent authority (in Australia this is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to transport:

• at least five persons including crew, or
• goods in excess of 450 kg.

What isn't included in an Aircraft search ?

Identifying details of the aircraft

When you do an aircraft search on VINNER, your search doesn't return any identifying details of the aircraft, such as the make, model or registration status like it does for motor vehicle search. As such you need to be particularly careful when entering the serial number as you won't be able to cross reference the information to confirm you've searched for the right aircraft.

Searches registered against the grantor

Sometimes a security interest is registered against the person giving the security interest rather and the aircraft itself. Therefore, they won't show up in a VINNER aircraft search. These would be registered against the individual or organisation. As this could be the person or organisation selling the aircraft, you may want to do a search against them as well as your aircraft search.

Stolen or damaged aircraft

Your search won’t tell you if the aircraft you are looking to buy is stolen or has been badly damaged. For more information, check with the the Civil Aviation Safety Authority or contact the police in your state or territory for information regarding it's stolen status.