Assent Aeronautics will transition the live Assent private aircraft auction scheduled for April 30th at Jet Aviation, Dallas Love Field, to a new live online digital aircraft auction on May 14th, 2020 to remain in lockstep with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), federal, state and local regulations, and at the request of aircraft consignors and bidders alike. Jet Aviation will be the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Assent live virtual auction on May 14th, and will host both the November 19, 2020 and April 29, 2021 live Assent Aeronautics private auctions at its freshly renovated Dallas Love Field facility.

“As the world's first live and lux aircraft auction house, adding a virtual component to our capabilities has certainly been on the drawing board. COVID-19 is a crisis. We are focused on preserving life while still supporting our economy, our clients and our staff in these difficult times, by continuing to be the market maker for private aircraft,” said Jake Banglesdorf, vice president of Assent Aeronautics. “Frankly, bidders still want to bid and sellers still want to sell, so we are accelerating our roll out of the live online bidding platform, so they can shake hands, albeit digitally, through Assent Aeronautics aircraft auctions.”

The catalogue for the auction will be released in the coming weeks, and will include Challengers, Citations and Beechcraft King Airs that are exclusively available through Assent, along with other aircraft as well. Assent's December auction catalogue featured slightly over $30 million in business aviation aircraft, and Assent's closing rate exceeds 80% for aircraft offered over $1 million. Furthermore Assent's virtual biding technology is powered by the same online bidding software that well-known automobile, real estate and fine art auction houses use in their digital platforms. Bidders will still be verified and approved by Assent. Consignors will not need to reposition their aircraft but will be required to allow for visual inspections and records reviews at their own facilities should a bidder make the request.

“Our nation's health and safety are, of course, everyone's primary concern at this difficult time. At Assent, we can assure you, those are our top priorities as we join with others in the industrial complex to lead, innovate and redouble our efforts to keep our economy alive and resilient,” said W. Hulsey Smith, president and chief executive officer of Assent Aeronautics. “If we all work together now, together we can come out of this crisis better on the other side.”