A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

The Jet Agent, an Arizona-based aircraft brokerage specializing in Cessna Citations, has noted changes in the market across the airframer’s product range.&nbsp;According to company founder and president Denise Wilson, the CJ4 light jet has seen a surge in availability over the past year, with inventory more than doubling from 20 to 43. One factor she attributes to this rise is a recently issued service bulletin regarding windshield frame issues.
However, the market for its sibling CJ3+ remains tight, with just barely more than 3% of the in-service fleet on the market. Wilson noted that earlier serial numbers are in high demand from buyers looking to purchase them for sub-$8 million prices.
That variability continues toward the OEM’s lower end, with the M2—which historically has seen brisk turnover—experiencing an increase in inventory, rising from 27 on the market a year ago to 40 currently. On the other hand, inventory of the out-of-production Mustang very light jet &nbsp;dropped from 39 at the beginning of 2024 to 21.
“The preowned Citation markets remain healthy, but we’re seeing notable shifts,” said Wilson. “While models like the Citation CJ2 are experiencing high inventory levels with extended time on the market, other models like the Citation XLS are in limited supply, with only 2.7% of the fleet currently available. Understanding these trends is essential for making informed buying and selling decisions.”
Since the beginning of September, 152 preowned Citations have changed hands, with the U.S. and Canadian markets accounting for 118 of them. Wilson explained that for buyers seeking to close on purchases by the end of the tax year, there is a preference for ready-to-fly aircraft.
Among older aircraft, popular upgrades include Wi-Fi improvements and avionics modernization such as the Garmin G600TXi and GFC 600 autopilot on the CJ2.
While scheduling shop time for such upgrades before the end of the year could prove challenging, “Sellers can still boost their aircraft’s value with small improvements like cosmetic touch-ups and ensuring their logbooks are complete and organized,” said Wilson.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Broker: Preowned Cessna Citation Market Remains Mixed as 2024 Nears Close

Some models are seeing high demand, others not so much

The Jet Agent, an aircraft brokerage specializing in Cessna Citations, has noted changes in the market across the airframer’s product range.

Broker: Preowned Cessna Citation Market Remains Mixed

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jennifer Leach English

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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