Plane Selection is an international aircraft brokerage firm operated by Plane Selection, headquartered in Nice, France. We provide comprehensive aviation services including private jet charter, aircraft sales and acquisitions, fleet management, and maintenance coordination. With over 20 years of experience and operations in 49 countries, we are one of Europe's most established aviation brokers. We hold ARGUS Registered Broker status, ISO certification, and memberships in both EBAA and NBAA.

Getting started is straightforward. Contact us by phone at +33 (0)4 93 00 00 00, email us at info@planeselection.com, or use our online contact form. Tell us about your needs — whether it is a charter flight, aircraft purchase, or fleet management — and we will assign a dedicated account manager to work with you. There is no obligation, and initial consultations are complimentary. We typically respond to inquiries within two hours during business hours.

Plane Selection holds four key accreditations: ARGUS Registered Broker (awarded May 2017, the first in France), ISO certification under reference CC.01.CC.CMK.039-16 (since September 2016), membership in EBAA (European Business Aviation Association), and membership in NBAA (National Business Aviation Association). These certifications are independently audited and reflect our commitment to the highest standards in aviation safety, quality management, and professional ethics. You can learn more on our certifications page.

Our headquarters are in Nice, France, on the French Riviera. This location places us at the heart of European business aviation, close to Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) — one of Europe's busiest private jet airports. While our physical office is in Nice, we operate globally across 49 countries, with partnerships and operational capabilities on every continent. Our team is available 24/7 regardless of time zone.

Charter costs vary based on several factors: aircraft type, route distance, number of passengers, time of year, and positioning requirements. A light jet for a short European hop may start from approximately EUR 5,000-8,000 per hour, while a large-cabin intercontinental jet can cost EUR 12,000-18,000 per hour. We provide transparent, all-inclusive quotes with no hidden fees. Contact us with your specific route and dates for an accurate estimate. Empty leg flights offer savings of 40-60% below standard rates.

We recommend booking at least 48-72 hours in advance for domestic and European flights to secure the best aircraft options and pricing. For intercontinental flights, a week or more of lead time is ideal. However, we specialize in handling last-minute requests and can often arrange flights within just a few hours. During peak seasons (summer, Christmas, major events like the Monaco Grand Prix or Cannes Film Festival), booking well in advance is strongly recommended.

Our charter packages typically include the aircraft, crew, fuel, landing fees, handling charges, and standard catering. We provide a fully transparent quote that itemizes all costs so there are no surprises. Additional services such as premium catering, ground transportation, customs facilitation, and special requests (flowers, champagne, specific dietary requirements) can be arranged at additional cost. We handle all logistics from door to door, including FBO coordination and ground transport at both ends.

Yes, one of the great advantages of private aviation is that pets are welcome in the cabin with you — no cargo hold required. Most operators allow dogs, cats, and other domesticals on board at no additional charge. We will confirm pet policies with the specific operator for your flight and ensure all necessary health certificates and documentation are in order for your destination. For international travel with pets, we also handle any quarantine or import requirements at the destination country.

Absolutely. We work with premium caterers across Europe and worldwide to deliver dining experiences that match the quality of a fine restaurant — at 40,000 feet. Whether you require a specific cuisine, dietary accommodations (vegan, kosher, halal, gluten-free), or a celebration setup with champagne and cake, we coordinate every detail. For longer flights, multi-course meals can be arranged. Simply let us know your preferences when booking and we will take care of everything.

Aircraft management is a comprehensive service where we handle all operational aspects of your aircraft on your behalf. This includes pilot recruitment and scheduling, maintenance planning and coordination, insurance management, regulatory compliance, hangar arrangements, and financial reporting. Essentially, you own the aircraft and enjoy flying it, while we handle everything else. Our goal is to maximize your aircraft's availability, safety, and — if you choose — charter revenue, while minimizing your costs and administrative burden.

Professional management delivers several key benefits: reduced operating costs through bulk purchasing and vendor negotiations, optimized maintenance scheduling that minimizes downtime, guaranteed regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions, qualified crew management, comprehensive insurance coverage, and detailed financial reporting. If you opt into a charter program, your aircraft can generate revenue when you are not using it, offsetting a significant portion of ownership costs. Our clients typically see operating cost reductions of 15-25% compared to self-management.

Yes, this is one of the most compelling aspects of professional aircraft management. When your aircraft is not being used for personal or business travel, it can be placed into our charter program. We market the aircraft to our global client base, handle all bookings and logistics, and return the revenue to you. Many of our managed aircraft generate enough charter income to offset 30-50% of annual operating costs. You retain full priority access to your aircraft and can block out dates as needed. Our monthly reports provide complete transparency on charter activity and revenue.

Our acquisition process follows a structured approach: First, we conduct a detailed needs analysis to understand your mission profile, budget, and preferences. Next, we search the global market — including off-market opportunities through our network — to identify candidate aircraft. We provide comparative analyses and arrange viewings. Once you select an aircraft, we manage the letter of intent, pre-purchase inspection at a qualified MRO facility, negotiations, escrow, title search, and closing. The entire process typically takes 2-6 months depending on the aircraft type and market conditions.

A pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is a comprehensive examination of an aircraft conducted by an independent maintenance facility before the sale is finalized. The inspection covers the airframe, engines, avionics, interior, paint, and all documentation and records. A thorough PPI can reveal hidden maintenance issues, compliance discrepancies, or damage history that could affect the aircraft's value and airworthiness. We strongly recommend a PPI for every acquisition and can arrange the inspection at qualified facilities worldwide. The cost of a PPI is modest compared to the protection it provides.

While Plane Selection is not a financial institution, we work closely with established aviation finance providers to help clients secure competitive financing for their acquisitions. Our finance partners offer a range of structures including traditional loans, operating leases, and tax-optimized ownership arrangements. Our finance expert can guide you through the options and connect you with lenders who specialize in your aircraft type and transaction size. We also advise on ownership structures, VAT implications, and registration jurisdictions to optimize the financial aspects of your purchase.

Safety is our absolute priority. As an ARGUS Registered Broker, we apply rigorous vetting standards to every operator in our network. Our safety protocol includes verification of the operator's Air Operator Certificate (AOC), safety audit results from recognized bodies (ARGUS, IS-BAO, Wyvern), crew qualifications and training records, aircraft maintenance history, and insurance coverage. We continuously monitor operator performance and remove any operator that fails to maintain our standards. Additionally, our ISO-certified processes ensure consistent, documented safety procedures across every engagement.

All charter flights arranged through Plane Selection are fully insured through the operating airline's hull and liability policies. We verify insurance coverage before every flight and ensure it meets or exceeds the requirements for the planned route and jurisdictions. For aircraft management clients, we coordinate comprehensive insurance programs including hull all-risks, liability, and loss-of-use coverage with leading aviation underwriters. We can also arrange additional coverage for specific client requirements, such as increased liability limits for high-value passengers or war-risk coverage for certain destinations.

We require all pilots operating flights we arrange to hold valid type ratings for the specific aircraft, current instrument ratings, and appropriate medical certificates. For charter operations, we verify that captains have a minimum of 3,000 total flight hours with at least 1,000 hours on type. First officers must have a minimum of 1,500 total hours. All crew must have completed recurrent training within the required periods and passed proficiency checks. For managed aircraft, we recruit and train crews to these same exacting standards, working with approved training organizations worldwide.