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Crowe Dunlevy Hosts Tulsa’s Inaugural Aviation Leaders in Oklahoma Flight & Technology “ALOFT” Event
Aug 19, 2026|
2 minute read
Need aviation counsel that sees the whole runway?
Aviation clients need legal counsel that understands how transactions, financing, ownership, operations and disputes fit together. Our Aviation Team serves as a full-service legal resource for the aviation industry, drawing on our banking and finance, tax, corporate and litigation lawyers to address matters across the aircraft life cycle. From FAA title and registration work and International Registry filings to purchase and financing documents, ownership structures, operational agreements and escrow services, we coordinate the legal details that keep transactions moving and help clients operate within highly complex regulatory and business requirements. When a dispute arises, our litigators work alongside the transactional team to pursue a practical resolution informed by the aircraft, the governing documents and the industry context.
Closing aviation deals and clearing the way for what’s next
We advise clients on the purchase and sale of new and preowned commercial, business and personal aircraft, including term sheets, definitive agreements, inspection and technical acceptance provisions, delivery conditions and cross-border considerations. We also develop ownership and operating structures tailored to the client’s mission, including dry leases, intercompany leases, time-sharing and joint ownership arrangements, fractional programs, management agreements and pilot-sharing agreements. Our goal is to align the transaction documents, corporate structure, tax considerations and operational plan from the outset so the client can move from agreement to closing and operation efficiently.
Built to serve aviation’s key players
Our national and international client base includes aircraft buyers and sellers, banks and other financing sources, commercial airlines, air cargo carriers, aircraft and engine manufacturers, operating lessors, corporate flight departments, fractional interest programs and individual aircraft owners. We also advise drone manufacturers and operators as unmanned aircraft become a larger part of commercial aviation. Clients value our deep industry knowledge, established working relationships, cost-effective approach and consistent follow-through on matters where timing, precision and trust are essential
Delivering one coordinated approach from financing through escrow
We help lenders, lessors, buyers and sellers structure and document aircraft financings, secured loans, operating leases and related transactions, then coordinate FAA filings, International Registry registrations and UCC filings to establish and prioritize interests in the aircraft. Our team also advises on title and lien issues, Cape Town Convention requirements, state sales and use tax planning, federal tax considerations and the business and personal use of aircraft. When requested, we serve as escrow agent and coordinate purchase, sale and payoff funds through a trusted process designed to give all parties confidence in the closing.
The deep litigation bench needed to tackle the toughest disputes
Our aviation litigation experience includes failed aircraft transactions, title and lien disputes, contested escrow funds, aircraft financing defaults, aircraft recovery and disposition, manufacturer and product-related claims and collections for repair or upgrade services. Because our litigators can draw on the expansive knowledge of our Aviation Group, we can assess both the legal issues and the commercial realities and pursue a resolution that supports the client’s broader objectives.