Light aircraft and helicopter finance
LEisure Finance
Light aircraft and helicopter finance in South Africa
From departing on your own schedule to exploring destinations unreachable by road or experiencing our land from the sky, there’s nothing quite like the freedom of personal aviation.
Try financing a light aircraft through a traditional bank and you will quickly discover that their systems were not built for it. Where others stop, we go further. Our solutions are built around your lifestyle, not a commercial fleet operator’s balance sheet. Own the aircraft you want, without grounding your capital.
LEisure Finance
Light aircraft and helicopter finance in South Africa
From departing on your own schedule to exploring destinations unreachable by road or experiencing our land from the sky, there’s nothing quite like the freedom of personal aviation.
Try financing a light aircraft through a traditional bank and you will quickly discover that their systems were not built for it. Where others stop, we go further. Our solutions are built around your lifestyle, not a commercial fleet operator’s balance sheet. Own the aircraft you want, without grounding your capital.
Built for those who go further than the road allows
We understand aviation, not just finance
Most lenders see an aircraft as an unusual asset. We see it differently. From single-engine fixed-wing to twin-engine rotorcraft, we understand how personal aircraft are valued, maintained, and used.
Finance structured around personal use
Commercial aircraft finance is built for operators and fleets. Ours is built for owners. Whether you are a private pilot or recreational flyer, our solutions reflect how you use your asset.
Local expertise, with an eye on imports
South Africa’s personal aviation market is unique. Aircraft is often imported, privately registered, sometimes pre-owned with international maintenance histories. We work within this landscape every day and can help you find the best funding solution.
Common questions about light aircraft and helicopter finance
Yes. Specialist leisure assets are exactly what we do. Traditional banks often don't know how to value or structure finance for assets that fall outside standard book-value systems, but we have built our business around getting these deals done.
With 62,000+ clients, over R20 billion in assets financed, and R30 billion in assets under management, we have the experience and the appetite to structure finance for the unusual. Our nationwide coverage and direct access to asset specialists mean your application is assessed by people who understand the asset, not a generic credit template.
Yes, Merchant West specialises in personal aviation finance, meaning our solutions are designed for private owners and recreational pilots. If you're looking to acquire a light aircraft for personal use, we can structure a finance solution around your situation.
Absolutely. Speak to one of our specialists to discuss what works for your specific aircraft.
Aircraft finance in South Africa typically works as an asset-backed instalment agreement. The aircraft serves as security for the loan, and you repay over an agreed term with fixed or structured monthly instalments. Once the agreement is settled, full ownership transfers to you. We handle the specialist valuation, SACAA registration considerations, and structuring in-house, so the process is straightforward from application to handover.
Our minimum documents required are the following:
- Minimum 3-month bank statements
- Minimum 3-month pay slips
- Proof of address
- Copy of ID
- FICA documentation & POPIA Consent
Additional documents may be requested as and when the application moves through the process.
Yes. We work with these transactions regularly and understand how to assess an imported airframe, account for its international maintenance history.
Terms start from 60 Â months, but vary depending on the value of the aircraft, your financial profile, and the deal structure.
Leisure Finance
Light aircraft and helicopter finance
Get in touch to explore the best solution for you.