Mente pushes aircraft value forecasting beyond simple appraisals

As connectivity upgrades, avionics modernization and major maintenance projects become more expensive, owners are spending more time evaluating what those investments mean for an aircraft’s value. Mente Group introduced an enhanced version of its Mente Values Platform (MVP) on October 12. The upgrade adds transaction data, residual-value projections, market intelligence and tools meant to support fleet-planning and replacement decisions. The company states the platform is meant to help users evaluate current aircraft values, future resale projections and the impact of equipment and upgrade decisions. “Our updated platform combines Mente Group’s proprietary appraisal history, transaction records and consulting intelligence in a single resource,” said Mente CEO Brian Proctor. “Grounded in actual aircraft transactions. MVP helps users assess their aircraft’s market position and prepare for decisions involving replacement, upgrades, insurance and capital budgets.” Mente’s updated MVP is aimed at aircraft owners and flight departments rather than exclusively at brokers or appraisers. Many upgrade decisions happen years before a sale occurs. An owner considering Starlink, a cockpit upgrade, new connectivity equipment, or a major modification wants to know whether the investment affects resale value, insurance discussions, replacement timing, or financing assumptions. Those questions increasingly require more than a simple appraisal. Why it matters The launch comes just before NBAA-BACE 2026, where NBAA has emphasized maintenance-related issues as a key area of focus. That provides a natural backdrop for discussions about aircraft value, upgrades, replacement planning and ownership costs. Those expenditures often influence how an aircraft is positioned in the market years later. The challenge is determining which upgrades create measurable value and which simply improve the ownership experience.