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The short answer is no, not at present. MFG arranges finance for aircraft with a genuine commercial or business purpose.
Why we draw that line
MFG is a commercial equipment and aircraft finance specialist. We work with business applicants and aviation operators acquiring aircraft for actual commercial activity. We are not accredited to arrange consumer credit for primarily private or recreational aircraft purchases.
An ABN by itself does not turn a private flight into a business purpose. Lenders look at the real use and borrower position. We would not describe a recreational purchase as commercial to obtain a business facility.
Why private aircraft finance can be difficult
Aircraft are specialised assets. Lenders may need to assess type, age, valuation, maintenance records, airworthiness, registration, seller and security arrangements. For a private buyer, the available consumer-credit lenders and their appetite may be narrower than the commercial options we use for an operator.
This does not mean a private purchase is impossible to finance. It means the first conversation should be with someone authorised for the type of credit and security you actually need.
Where a recreational buyer might start
An appropriately accredited mortgage or consumer-finance broker can discuss whether a personal lending option or available home equity is suitable. A redraw, refinance or equity release changes obligations and may put a home at risk, so the costs and security deserve careful advice. A personal loan may have different limits and terms and may not be secured primarily against the aircraft.
If you also own a company, do not simply use company borrowing for a private aircraft without the lender, accountant and tax adviser understanding the actual purpose. Private company benefits or loans to shareholders can have tax consequences, including Division 7A issues. Any business borrowing must be for a genuine, disclosed and lender-approved commercial purpose.
When the aircraft has a real job to do
If the aircraft will genuinely support an operating business, tell us what it will do, how often it will be used, who will operate it and how the purchase fits the business. We can then discuss commercial lender appetite and the documentation needed. Charter, agricultural, survey and other operational uses each need their own assessment.
Start with the purpose, not the aircraft. That keeps the finance conversation honest and directs you to the right kind of adviser.
Private sale is not the same as private use
This distinction catches people out. We can consider a commercially used aircraft bought from a genuine private seller, subject to the usual lender and transaction assessment. That does not mean we arrange finance for someone buying an aircraft mainly to fly for recreation. The seller’s identity and the borrower’s real purpose are separate questions. We would ask what the aircraft will do for the business, who will operate it and how the use is evidenced before discussing a commercial facility.
Similarly, holding an ABN or placing the aircraft in a company does not by itself change a personal purchase into a commercial one. If the use is mixed, explain the genuine expected use to an appropriately qualified adviser and lender. We should not make a credit-purpose declaration simply to access a product that would otherwise be unavailable.
What I would prepare for a commercial aircraft conversation
For a real business use, the starting brief should cover aircraft type, age, price, seller, intended operation, location, operator and expected revenue or operational need. The maintenance history, airworthiness and registration position, component life, valuation and insurance may then affect which lender we approach and the conditions of an approval. An imported aircraft or a transaction with international registration requirements adds another layer of documents and timing.
These are reasons to involve a commercial aircraft specialist early, before committing to a settlement date. They are not a promise that every business aircraft or every structure will be approved. For a primarily recreational purchase, start with an adviser authorised for the actual personal credit purpose and consider the risks of any home-secured borrowing with them.
Every business, asset and lender is different. Talk through your circumstances with your advisers before making a finance decision.
