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PrivateJetBS

Michael Barber is the man you call when you need deals closed, jets sold, and acquisitions perfected; period. As Managing Director & Vice President of Sales Operations at jetAVIVA, and one of fewer than 200 IADA Certified Brokers worldwide, Michael is a force in the business aviation industry. Since joining jetAVIVA in 2025, he has transformed the Challenger 300/350/3500 market into his personal runway; leading sales operations, mentoring the next generation of researchers, and representing clients with a fiduciary standard that sets the bar across the industry. Michael’s track record speaks for itself. He was Leviate Air Group’s Top Producer in 2023, built the back end of boutique consulting firms before that, and has closed transactions with clients on six of the seven continents. His career is a masterclass in international negotiation, strategy, and execution, earning him a reputation as both a market expert and a trusted advisor. But, Michael isn’t just about jets, he’s about risk, reward, and control. With more than 20 years in emergency services, he knows how to perform under pressure. From leading the largest ski patrol on the East Coast to a decorated career as a Firefighter/Medic, he has spent his life turning high-stakes situations into controlled victories. When he’s not closing deals or commanding the room, Michael lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and their two children. On Sundays, you’ll find him at the polo fields or exploring Virginia’s wine country. But, make no mistake, his work and life are proof that success isn’t an accident. It’s the result of preparation, determination, and knowing when to take the shot.

PrivateJetBS | A Trip in the Life of a Jet Broker

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 36 A Trip in the Life of a Jet Broker Not a day in the life. There is no consistency. Folks ask what a typical day looks like for a jet broker. There isn't one. Most of our days are never the same, and most of our trips are never a single day. So instead of a day, here's a recent trip I took. WEDNESDAY 4:10 a.m. Alarm.The best part of this job is that I can live anywhere, because I...

PrivateJetBS | The Seat Count Is... Subjective?

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 35 The Seat Count Is... Subjective? Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ Let's talk about one of the most inconsistently applied numbers in every listing sheet: seat count. Double-club aircraft, four individual seats forward, four individual seats aft, plus a belted lav. One broker calls it a 9. Another calls it an 8+1. The FAA doesn't care. That lavatory ("lav") seat is certified...

PrivateJetBS | The Pre-Purchase Inspection: Who’s Really Working for You?

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 34 The Pre-Purchase Inspection: Who’s Really Working for You? You’ve found the aircraft. The price is right. The logbooks look clean. Your broker says it’s a great deal. The seller’s team is ready to move. Everything feels good. This is exactly when most buyers get hurt. The pre-purchase inspection is the single most consequential moment in an aircraft transaction. It is also the...

PrivateJetBS | The Myth That’s Costing Buyers Millions

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 33 The Myth That’s Costing Buyers Millions —And Two More the Market Refuses to Let Die I asked one question on X last month: What’s the one aircraft-buying myth you wish would die? 1,204 views. Countless replies and conversations. Every single one worth its own newsletter. But one rose above the rest — 182 views and a comment thread that proved my point better than I could have...

PrivateJetBS | What IADA Accreditation Actually Means — And Why It Should Matter to You

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 32 What IADA Accreditation Actually Means -And Why It Should Matter to You I've referenced the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) in nearly every edition of this newsletter. In passing. In credentials. In context. What I have not done is explain what it actually means — what the accreditation requires, what the certification demands of the brokers who hold it, and...

PrivateJetBS | The Super-Midsize Market Right Now: What the Data Isn't Showing You

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 31 The Super-Midsize Market Right Now: What the Data Isn't Showing You The numbers you're reading online are wrong. Not because someone falsified them. Not because the platforms are broken. But because the market has moved, and the data hasn't caught up. If you're making a buying or selling decision based on what's publicly listed today, you're not looking at the market. You're...

PrivateJetBS | The Broker You Hire Can Matter More Than the Aircraft You Buy

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 30 The Broker You Hire Can Matter More Than the Aircraft You Buy There’s a version of this industry that gets talked about at a very surface level: Find the right aircraft Negotiate a fair price Close the deal Fly away happy Clean. Linear. Comforting. And then there’s the version that actually exists. Where two buyers can purchase the same make, same model, similar year, similar...

PrivateJetBS | What Actually Drives the Price of a Jet (It’s Not Always What You Think)

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 29 What Actually Drives the Price of a Jet (It’s Not Always What You Think) Everyone loves to talk about comps. “This one sold for $9.8M.”“That one’s listed at $11.2M.” And on the surface, that feels like how pricing should work. Except it doesn’t. Because two “identical” aircraft can be separated by MILLIONS in real value—and if you don’t understand why, you’re either going to...

PrivateJetBS | The Case for Long-Term Thinking in Aircraft Ownership

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 28 Most buyers approach an aircraft like a solution. The best treat it like a strategy. At first, it’s about the mission—where you’re flying, how many seats you need, how far you have to go. That’s the logical starting point. But what often gets missed is that aircraft ownership doesn’t sit still. Over time, usage evolves, expectations change, and the role the aircraft plays in...

PrivateJetBS | You Can’t Hide a Jet

Were you forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. Trust the Process, Not the Promises.™ PrivateJetBS | Edition 27 You Can’t Hide a Jet There’s a misconception in private aviation that you can simply “turn off the tracking.” You can’t. ADSBExchange.com And anyone who tells you otherwise either doesn’t understand the system… or is selling comfort instead of truth. Let’s talk about how aircraft tracking actually works, what services people use to monitor movements, and why the smarter...

Michael Barber is the man you call when you need deals closed, jets sold, and acquisitions perfected; period. As Managing Director & Vice President of Sales Operations at jetAVIVA, and one of fewer than 200 IADA Certified Brokers worldwide, Michael is a force in the business aviation industry. Since joining jetAVIVA in 2025, he has transformed the Challenger 300/350/3500 market into his personal runway; leading sales operations, mentoring the next generation of researchers, and representing clients with a fiduciary standard that sets the bar across the industry. Michael’s track record speaks for itself. He was Leviate Air Group’s Top Producer in 2023, built the back end of boutique consulting firms before that, and has closed transactions with clients on six of the seven continents. His career is a masterclass in international negotiation, strategy, and execution, earning him a reputation as both a market expert and a trusted advisor. But, Michael isn’t just about jets, he’s about risk, reward, and control. With more than 20 years in emergency services, he knows how to perform under pressure. From leading the largest ski patrol on the East Coast to a decorated career as a Firefighter/Medic, he has spent his life turning high-stakes situations into controlled victories. When he’s not closing deals or commanding the room, Michael lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and their two children. On Sundays, you’ll find him at the polo fields or exploring Virginia’s wine country. But, make no mistake, his work and life are proof that success isn’t an accident. It’s the result of preparation, determination, and knowing when to take the shot.