Credible Reports That Stand Up in Court
Expert witness support and field-verified opinions of value for aviation valuation disputes. The first hour is free — call 800.895.1382 to talk through your case.
Why Attorneys Rely on Plane Data, Inc.
Aircraft valuation disputes — whether in divorce proceedings, estate matters, partnership dissolutions, insurance claims, or breach-of-contract litigation — hinge on a credible, defensible opinion of value. Since 1992, Plane Data, Inc. reports have been used successfully in multiple court cases, and every report is built the same way regardless of its intended use: a documented, in-person field inspection, full records review, and a clearly stated Scope of Work — not an unverifiable desktop estimate that opposing counsel can pick apart.
How We Support Your Case
Our appraiser physically inspects the aircraft and reviews all logbooks and records firsthand, so the report is based on direct observation, not third-party claims.
The Scope of Work is stated plainly in every report, so the basis for the opinion of value can withstand scrutiny under cross-examination or deposition.
Mike Simmons, a PAAO Senior Certified Aircraft Appraiser with over 30 years of experience, is available to testify to and defend the findings in the report.
Our fee structure is not commission-based, reinforcing that our opinion is independent and not influenced by the outcome of the underlying transaction or dispute.
You Need an Expert on Your Side
No obligation
The first hour is free, with no obligation. Call 800.895.1382 to discuss your case, or request a consultation below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Litigation
A consulting expert works behind the scenes to help you understand valuation issues and prepare your case; a testifying expert’s opinions and file are subject to discovery and cross-examination. I can serve in either capacity — many engagements start as consulting and convert to testifying once the valuation issues are clear. We’ll define the role upfront in the engagement letter.
The initial one-hour consultation is free, and I’m glad to discuss fees openly once we talk through the scope of your matter — rates vary depending on whether the engagement involves consulting, deposition, or court testimony. Reach out to set up that first conversation and we’ll go over what makes sense for your case.
My appraisals are built on a physical, in-person inspection of the aircraft combined with documented comparable sales and recognized valuation methodology — not a desktop estimate. That inspection record, along with my PAAO Senior Certified Aircraft Appraiser credential and appraisal experience, gives opposing counsel a clear, defensible basis to test, rather than a black-box number.
Yes. Reviewing another appraiser’s report — checking their comparable selection, condition assumptions, and methodology against the actual aircraft and available documentation — is a common part of litigation support work I provide.
As much as possible. Aviation litigation schedules often move, so the earlier you loop me in on a deposition or trial date, the more reliably I can hold that time and prepare. I’ll do what I can to accommodate shorter notice, but early scheduling protects both of us.
Insurance/Estate/Divorce
Whether it’s setting an insured value at policy issuance or determining a total-loss or damage settlement after a claim, the number needs to hold up. An independent, field-verified appraisal gives the carrier and the policyholder a documented value that isn’t simply the higher (or lower) number either side would prefer.
Estate valuations typically require a market value determination as of a specific date — usually the date of death — following recognized appraisal standards. I inspect the aircraft (or, if it’s already been sold or isn’t accessible, work from the best available documentation) and prepare a report suitable for submission to the estate’s attorney, executor, or the taxing authority.
The aircraft is typically valued as of the date of separation, filing, or another date set by the court or the parties’ agreement. An independent appraisal both spouses can rely on often resolves the valuation dispute faster and less expensively than each side retaining a competing expert — I’m regularly retained as a neutral appraiser in these matters, though either spouse’s attorney can retain me individually as well.
The settlement is generally based on the aircraft’s market value immediately before the loss, considering its condition, upgrades, and comparable sales at that time. If you disagree with the carrier’s valuation, an independent appraisal gives you a documented basis to negotiate or dispute the settlement.
Both. I’m retained directly by policyholders, by their attorneys, and by adjusters or carriers themselves, depending on who initiates the engagement. The valuation approach is the same regardless of who retains me — my job is an accurate, defensible number.
Full logbook history is ideal, but I can work with what’s available — including reconstructing a reasonable value picture when records are incomplete, which is common in estate situations. The more documentation available, the more precise the conclusion.