Our roots go back to 2005. We take airplanes that fly, airplanes that have not moved in a decade, projects in crates, engines on stands, and fleets from schools that closed. You do not need to know what your aircraft is worth, whether it is airworthy, or what the FAA requires. That is the part we do.
Go straight to your aircraft type
Related situations: no logbooks · damaged or AOG · inherited aircraft · aircraft with a lien
What we take care of
You are not asked to arrange anything or get the aircraft ready. We carry the cost of pickup, transport and the FAA filing; the only expense that can fall to you is a qualified appraisal, if your claim needs one.
What shapes the plan for your aircraft
Three things, in this order.
Condition, whatever it is. Flying, out of annual, timed out, damaged, disassembled or picked over for parts. Condition decides how the aircraft leaves and who receives it. It has never decided whether we accept it.
Records, as far as they exist. Complete logs give an aircraft the widest market; partial records or none at all simply change the destination, usually toward a rebuilder or a school. Do not spend a weekend searching before you call.
Where it sits. An airport with road access, a lake with none, a hangar with rent running, or a ramp in another country. Location drives the schedule and the method, and all of it is ours to arrange.
How aircraft actually leave
Airworthy aircraft are flown out by a pilot current in type, under our insurance. Where an annual has lapsed but the aircraft is sound, we arrange the inspection, the logbook entry and a special flight permit through the local FSDO. Anything that cannot economically fly — projects, damaged airframes, helicopters, ultralights, engines and inventory — moves by road or freight, with the disassembly, cradles and crating done by our crew.
Overseas donations add deregistration, export and customs steps, and we handle those too. If there is hangar rent, ramp fees or a storage bill running, say so on the first call — that is usually the largest number in the situation and the part we move on first.
Tell us about your aircraft
Three short steps. Only your name, phone and email are required — everything after that you can answer from memory, skip, or leave to the phone call. Nothing here commits you to anything. We carry the cost of pickup, transport and filing; an appraisal, where one is required, is the donor's own expense.
Rather talk it through? (888) 228-7320
An intake coordinator reads every submission and calls you back. We never sell or share your information.
What you can deduct
Above $500 the rules turn on what the charity does with the aircraft, not on what it is worth. Most aircraft are sold, which makes your deduction the gross proceeds. Airframes retained and used — typically by schools and maintenance programs — are valued by qualified appraisal instead.
| Situation | Deduction basis | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Sold by the charity | Gross proceeds of the sale | Form 1098-C within 30 days of sale |
| Retained for at least 36 months | Qualified appraised value (significant intervening use) | 1098-C with the intervening-use certification |
| Business-owned, depreciated | Limited to adjusted basis; recapture rules apply | Confirm with your CPA before assuming a number |
| Claimed above $5,000 | As above | Qualified appraisal dated within 60 days before the donation; Form 8283 Section B signed by the appraiser and the charity |
Giving Center cannot value your aircraft and cannot hire your appraiser — the IRS requires that independence, and above $5,000 the qualified appraisal is the donor's responsibility and expense. Rules for vehicle and aircraft gifts are laid out in IRS Publication 526, valuation in Publication 561, and the acknowledgment requirement in the Form 1098-C instructions. Claims above $5,000 also need Form 8283 Section B. Nothing here is tax advice; confirm your own figures with your CPA. Full tax detail · FAA paperwork
Ready when you are
Type, hours, logs and where it sits. That is enough for a real answer on the first call. Pickup, transport and filing are ours to cover.