Exchange vs outright vs lease
Three ways to get a serviceable APU on wing. Here's how they compare.
Outright purchase
You buy the unit and own it. Highest upfront cost, no core to return.
Best when: building spares, no core available, or the removed unit is beyond economical repair.
Exchange
You receive a serviceable unit and send your removed unit (the "core") back, usually within a set window. You pay an exchange fee, plus repair costs to bring your core to standard (often capped or quoted separately).
Best when: AOG or a scheduled removal and you have a repairable core.
Lease
A unit is installed for a period while yours is in the shop. Priced per day/month, often with usage charges per APU hour.
Best when: your own unit is in overhaul and you'll get it back.
Side-by-side
| Outright | Exchange | Lease | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Highest | Lower (fee + core repair) | Lowest |
| Core required | No | Yes, within agreed days | Return the leased unit |
| Ownership | Yours | Yours (title transfers) | Lessor's |
| Speed | Fast if available | Fast — common for AOG | Fast if available |
| Cost risk | Known price | Core repair / BER charges | Usage & return-condition charges |
General overview only; actual terms are defined in each written quotation.