Aviation

McGrath North has a diverse aviation practice advising clients on a broad range of aviation law matters.

The aviation practice attorneys handle complex aviation transactions, including aircraft acquisition and sales, financing and leasing transactions, and operational issues. The firm’s extensive experience in aviation matters extends to the interaction of Federal Aviation Administration and Internal Revenue Service considerations of aircraft acquisition, operation and leasing, including joint ownership structures, fractional ownership structures, leasing and interchange agreements. McGrath North also counsels clients on federal and state tax issues relating to aviation, including depreciation, state sales and use tax matters, and federal excise tax issues. We frequently assist clients in negotiating and documenting the acquisition of new aircraft, acquisition and sale of previously owned aircraft and undivided interests in aircraft under programs such as NetJets, Flexjet, Vista Jet and Delta AirElite.

The attorneys at McGrath North represent a broad spectrum of clients who are subject to the operational and safety regulations administered by the Federal Aviation Administration as well as the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, including aircraft and airport requirements, environmental impact and noise restrictions and airport operations. We are well versed in the complicated legal, regulatory, financing and contractual issues faced by airport operators as well as aircraft operators. We have experience in all phases of the regulatory scheme whether it relates to airport operators and the handling of airline use and lease agreements, rates and charges issues, concessions, financing of airport development projects and construction contracting issues or whether it relates to aircraft operators and the handling of Federal Aviation Administration regulatory compliance issues or flight and base operation safety audits.

McGrath North also handles claims and litigation lodged against airport operators, airlines, aircraft operators and power plant and component part manufacturers of general aviation aircraft. Our firm has developed a reputation for aggressive, efficient defense of claims against all segments of the industry.