Aircraft ownership and aviation property create three overlapping layers of legal exposure: FAA regulatory compliance, federal and state tax strategy, and personal asset protection. Allegis Law integrates all three.
We represent aircraft owners, operators, hangar partnerships, and aviation property holders across the full lifecycle, from acquisition and entity formation through leasing, regulatory classification, and succession. Whether you’re buying your first aircraft, structuring a hangar co-lease, or planning a generational transfer, our work is built around one objective: protecting your investment while capturing every available tax benefit.
Every engagement starts with understanding the intersection of your aircraft, your property, your tax position, and your long-term objectives. The services below are where that work lives. Each links to a dedicated page with detailed scope and guidance.
Purchase agreements, title verification, due diligence, and depreciation-aligned transaction structuring for entry-point and financed buyers.
Entity selection, personal use allocation, and business vs. personal classification. LLC, S-corp, and trust options structured for your operational model.
Trust and LLC formation for aircraft ownership—designed for succession, liability separation, and FAA registration compliance.
Use agreements, co-leases, hangar partnerships, private runway arrangements, and regulatory compliance for aviation real property.
Privacy, liability, and ownership administration structures for hangar and aviation property assets.
Lease structure design that controls tax classification, passive activity treatment, and FAA regulatory status.
Regulatory transitions, depreciation recapture modeling, step-up-in-basis planning, and operational continuity for generational transfers.
Operating classification strategy—crew requirements, insurance obligations, maintenance standards, and the tax consequences of each.
We often meet clients after a structural decision created a problem they didn't see coming.
Ownership entities that don't capture available depreciation The entity was formed for liability protection but ignores the tax position entirely.
FAA registration approaches that create unexpected tax exposure The registration was handled as a regulatory checkbox without considering downstream tax consequences.
Lease arrangements that trigger the wrong income classification A dry lease generates passive income when the owner expected active income; a wet lease creates operational obligations the owner wasn't prepared for.
Personal use allocation failures Family members' use of the aircraft triggers pro rata disallowance of depreciation and operating expense deductions.
Hangar agreements with no liability separation Co-lessees share a hangar under a handshake arrangement with no documentation of insurance obligations, scheduling rights, or damage responsibility.
Estate plans that ignore the aircraft entirely Succession documents don't account for aircraft value, operational continuity, or the regulatory transition required when ownership changes hands.
Comprehensive Aviation Asset Review
We analyze your current aircraft and aviation property ownership, review FAA registration documents, and assess your tax position. This evaluation identifies opportunities for tax savings, potential liability exposure, and areas where your aviation assets don’t align with your business succession and estate planning goals.
If you hold hangar leases, co-use agreements, or aviation property, those are also included in the review.
Strategic Structure Design
We design a legal structure that maximizes depreciation benefits, protects your personal assets, and maintains FAA compliance across your aircraft and aviation property holdings. Your strategy may include forming LLCs, establishing trusts, drafting hangar use agreements, or restructuring existing entities. Every option is evaluated against your broader wealth management objectives.
Implementation and Ongoing Support
We execute your strategy by drafting and filing all necessary legal documents, coordinating FAA registration changes, and establishing the entities or trusts required. As regulations change and your circumstances evolve, we provide ongoing guidance to keep your aviation ownership structure current.
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2026
Allegis Law, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
