By Todd Jackson, SVP of Aircraft Sales, Elliott Jets
Avionics upgrades have always been part of business aviation, but today they influence aircraft transactions in ways we have not seen before. What was once a conversation that happened late in ownership planning or after a deal closed has moved squarely into the early stages of acquisitions and sales.
At Elliott Jets, we sit at the intersection of buyers, sellers, and operators every day. Increasingly, avionics are not just a technical consideration. They directly affect valuation, timing, deal structure, and an aircraft’s ability to enter service on schedule. Between major obsolescence events, longer-than-normal equipment lead times, and shop downtimes, avionics planning has become a critical component of transactional success.
Understanding how these forces interact and how to manage them in real transactions is essential for anyone operating in today’s business aviation market.
Obsolescence Is Driving the Next Avionics Cycle
Obsolescence is not new, but the current cycle is different in both scale and impact. Several legacy avionics components that have been foundational across the fleet are now approaching the end of their supported lives. For owners, this creates unavoidable decision points. For buyers, it elevates avionics history and upgrade paths to a primary consideration during aircraft evaluation.
In transactions, obsolescence can become a major driver of renegotiation. Buyers are far less willing to assume open‑ended risk when a critical system is nearing the end of manufacturer support.
The Honeywell MKV as a Market Inflection Point
The most significant example is the Honeywell MKV Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, or EGPWS. The MKV is installed across a wide range of business aircraft, from Citations and Gulfstreams to widebodies like Boeing and Airbus. Honeywell has communicated that the MKV is in its sunset phase, with support expected to terminate within the next 12 to 18 months.
Once that support ends, continued operation becomes increasingly difficult. Failed components may not be repairable, replacement units may be unavailable, and operators can find themselves exposed operationally and from an insurance standpoint. At that point, the practical solution is the MKV‑A upgrade.
That upgrade is not insignificant. Installed costs are expected to be at least $200,000 and can be higher depending on aircraft type and associated work. From a transaction perspective, this is a meaningful capital event that must be addressed directly, either through pricing, escrow structures, or upgrade commitments before closing.
When Mandatory Upgrades Trigger Broader Modernization
In many aircraft, the MKV is tightly integrated into the avionics architecture. Once owners face the reality of opening the panel for a six‑figure safety system upgrade, the conversation naturally expands.
If the aircraft already requires a major investment to remain supported, many owners and buyers begin to evaluate whether it makes sense to modernize the flight deck more comprehensively at the same time. This is where we are seeing renewed interest in upgrades such as Garmin’s G5000 in platforms like the Citation Excel and XLS, as well as broader avionics refreshes in aircraft such as the Beechjet.
These upgrades can significantly enhance capability, reliability, and long‑term value, but they also increase scope, downtime, and demand on installation resources. What begins as a compliance‑driven decision can quickly reshape the entire transaction timeline.
Capacity Pressure Is Coming
As the MKV sunset approaches, demand for MKV‑A upgrade is expected to accelerate. That demand will not exist in isolation. It will compete for the same shop capacity required for discretionary upgrades, connectivity installs, and scheduled avionics maintenance.
Aircraft that reach the market without a clear strategy for addressing this looming obsolescence are likely to face growing resistance from buyers. Proactive planning is becoming the difference between controlled outcomes and reactive concessions.
Manufacturer Lead Times Are Now a Strategic Variable
While obsolescence often drives the decision to upgrade, manufacturer lead times frequently determine whether those upgrades can be completed without disrupting a transaction.
Over the past several years, avionics OEMs have been operating in an environment defined by supply chain constraints and sustained demand. The result is lead times that are longer and less predictable than many operators were accustomed to historically.
The Current Lead Time Landscape (May 2026)
Today, lead times vary meaningfully by OEM and product category. Garmin equipment is typically running around seven weeks. Collins Aerospace components are closer to twelve weeks. Nextant, which holds many Starlink STCs, is also approximately twelve weeks. AMI installations commonly fall in the six to eight week range.
The most dramatic change, however, has occurred in aviation connectivity.
The Sudden Shift in High Demand Products
Starlink provides one of the clearest examples of how quickly avionics planning assumptions can change.
Until very recently, Starlink aviation systems operated on relatively predictable timelines. Lead times were commonly in the 6 to 9 week range, which allowed owners and buyers to plan installations around inspections, transactions, and seasonal flying schedules. In early April, however, Starlink announced that restrictions in the global supply chain have pushed lead times to roughly 20 weeks. This immediately changes how connectivity upgrades must be planned across the market.
Once the equipment is on hand, the physical installation itself can still be completed quickly. At experienced shops, Starlink installs can be accomplished in as little as 12 days. The challenge now sits almost entirely in the lead‑up, and that distinction is critical for transactions where entry into service timing matters.
What we are seeing in the market is a fairly even split in operator response. Many owners continue to view Starlink as the gold standard for connectivity and are willing to adjust timelines accordingly. At the same time, an equal number of operators are actively weighing their options and evaluating alternatives such as Gogo Galileo.
For some buyers, particularly those facing tight delivery windows or seasonal operational demands, flexibility now carries as much weight as absolute performance. In those cases, alternative connectivity solutions that can be installed sooner may present a more practical path, even if they are ultimately viewed as interim solutions.
From a transactional perspective, this shift reinforces a broader point. Relying on historical norms is no longer sufficient. Avionics timelines can change quickly, and those changes directly affect valuation, deal structure, and post‑closing usability. Having multiple viable upgrade pathways has become an important risk‑management strategy.
Why Lead Times Matter in Transactions
In an acquisition context, lead times affect far more than scheduling. They influence contract language, deposit timing, escrow instructions, and buyer expectations. One of the most common friction points we encounter is when buyers expect avionics upgrades to begin immediately after closing, only to discover that key components should have been ordered weeks or months earlier.
Even when a shop has availability, missing equipment can stall the entire upgrade. This is why working with an experienced shop that regularly performs the installation is so important. These shops understand true lead times, STC pathways, and how projects realistically flow from start to finish.
Upgrades After Closing
An experienced aircraft broker would never allow upgrades to happen before the aircraft transaction is closed. Keeping upgrades separate from the transaction is critical to establishing the new owner and finalizing the deal. However, many new buyers like to start their upgrades immediately after closing. The new buyer already has their aircraft out of service and could potentially capture labor efficiencies and reduce the overall downtime.
There can also a meaningful financial consideration. In many cases, upgrades completed before the aircraft’s in‑service date may qualify for 100 percent bonus depreciation, depending on individual tax circumstances.
Putting Avionics Challenges in the Proper Context
It is important to put everything discussed here into the proper perspective. None of these challenges are unusual, and none of them should be viewed as reasons to hesitate when purchasing a business aircraft. Avionics upgrades, obsolescence planning, lead‑time management, and downtime coordination are simply part of the normal ownership and transaction cycle in business aviation.
Experienced aircraft brokers, shops, and operators are having these conversations every day. At Elliott Jets, this is not theoretical. We are actively working with owners, buyers, avionics manufacturers, and installation centers on these exact issues across multiple transactions at any given time. The goal is not to avoid avionics decisions entirely, because that is not realistic. The goal is to anticipate them early, manage them intelligently, and structure transactions so they do not become problems.
When handled proactively, avionics upgrades rarely disrupt a deal. In fact, they are often opportunities to improve the aircraft, protect long‑term value, and deliver a better ownership experience from day one. The risk does not come from the existence of these challenges, but from encountering them late in the process without a plan or experienced guidance.
This is where the right advisory team makes the difference. By identifying upcoming obsolescence, understanding real‑world lead times, coordinating with proven shops, and aligning upgrades with inspections and delivery timelines, it is entirely possible to avoid unnecessary delays, cost overruns, and frustration. For buyers and sellers alike, these conversations should feel familiar and manageable, because with the right partners, they are.
Shop Downtime and the Push to Get Aircraft Back in Service
Even with equipment ordered and shop slots secured, downtime remains one of the most critical variables in avionics upgrades.
Downtime is not merely an inconvenience. For some operators, it represents lost charter revenue. For others, it means not having the aircraft available when it is needed most. In transactions, downtime also plays a significant role in buyer perception. Aircraft that can enter service quickly and predictably are increasingly favored.
What Best Case Downtime Looks Like
Actual downtime varies based on aircraft condition and scope, but leading avionics shops have demonstrated that efficient turn times are achievable with proper planning.
Garmin G1000 NXi upgrades can be completed in as little as 15 days. A G5000 installation in a Citation Excel or XLS can often be accomplished in roughly 25 days. Starlink installations can be completed in as little as 12 days once equipment is available.
These timelines are not universal, but they represent what is possible with experienced technicians, disciplined project management, and realistic expectations set early in the process.
Planning Around Capacity Constraints
As demand for both mandatory obsolescence upgrades and discretionary avionics improvements continues to rise, shop capacity will remain a limiting factor. Schedules are being built further into the future, and the ability to accommodate last‑minute additions is becoming increasingly limited.
Aircraft transactions that account for this reality tend to move more smoothly. Those that do not are more vulnerable to delays, renegotiations, and frustrated buyers.
Navigating Transactions in Today’s Avionics Environment
The transactions that close cleanly in today’s market are the ones where avionics planning begins early.
Sellers who understand their aircraft’s avionics exposure and address it proactively tend to preserve pricing power. Buyers who evaluate avionics during initial screening, rather than deferring that analysis until the pre‑buy, avoid surprises that can otherwise derail a deal.
From a brokerage perspective, avionics are no longer a secondary technical issue. They are a strategic variable that affects valuation, timing, tax planning, and risk allocation. Integrating avionics considerations into the transaction from day one is now essential.
Final Thoughts
Business aviation is entering a period of accelerated avionics modernization. Major obsolescence events such as the Honeywell MKV sunset, combined with extended manufacturer lead times and constrained shop capacity, are reshaping how aircraft transactions are executed.
These challenges are real, but they are manageable with thoughtful planning and experienced partners. In many cases, avionics upgrades can become an opportunity to enhance capability, strengthen long‑term value, and deliver a better ownership experience.
The key is recognizing that avionics are no longer an afterthought. They are a core component of every successful aircraft transaction.
