Tag Archives: Return Compensation

The Definition of “Engine Basic Shop Visit”

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I used to joke with a friend that “I’ll be 70 years old and still negotiating the definition of ‘Engine Basic Shop Visit’ on a daily basis.”

That was at least 15 years ago and while “on a daily basis” was an exaggeration, that term (some lessors use “Engine Performance Restoration” or similar terms) is still the most important defined term in most aircraft lease agreements and it is (no doubt about it) the defined term that the lessor’s lawyers and tech officers will look at most often after delivery (and usually while under stress–“oh, please let it say what I need it to say”).

The term should be used sparingly in a lease agreement.  In a previous post I have noted that the term should not be used in return conditions–because the definition usually sets a high standard for the restoration workscope and the main point of the relevant return condition should be on-wing time remaining to the next performance restoration (of any sort)–not on-wing time remaining until the next full performance restoration.  The same logic applies to the delivery conditions, though using the defined term in the delivery conditions would benefit the lessor–unless the delivery conditions uses a “time since” standard for the engine delivery condition.

In lease agreements that I draft the term will usually appear only in the provisions related to maintenance reserves and/or return compensation.  In the maintenance reserve provisions the defined term will be the trigger for when the lessor reimburses reserves.  In the return compensation provisions it will be the trigger for when the hourly return compensation payment from the lessee starts to accrue.  In both cases the lessor will benefit from a high standard.

The definition of ” Engine Basic Shop Visit'” that I use has four components:

1. Workscope. The threshold question in drafting the definition is whether the maintenance reserve/return compensation trigger will be the overhaul of any listed engine module or an overhaul of a set (or all) of modules required.  This issue is usually addressed by the tech and financial officers of the lessor and the resolution will be driven by the expected condition of the engine at delivery and the performance restoration reserve balance for the engine.  (If the “modular approach” is used, then the reserve/return compensation/lessor contribution provisions will need to be drafted to allocate the relevant amounts (usually on a percentage basis) among the modules.)

2. Engine Manufacturer Manuals and Guidelines. The performance restoration should be performed in accordance with the relevant engine manufacturer manuals and guidelines.  The lessor’s tech officers should provide (or at least review) the description of the relevant engine manufacturer manuals and guidelines.

3. Performance Standard. Here is a requirement that I often do not see in lessor’s lease agreements.  The workscope has been agreed with the lessor and the performance restoration has been carried out in accordance with the agreed engine manufacturer manuals and guidelines, but the EGT margin from the test cell after the performance restoration is the same as before the performance restoration.  Should the completion of the performance restoration be a sufficient trigger for purposes of a maintenance reserve reimbursement or return compensation reset?  No, it shouldn’t.

So, I suggest adding a performance standard that requires the performance restoration :

fully restores [the Engine’s/such module’s] performance and service life using the workscope defined in the Engine Manufacturer’s [Engine Management Program and the Engine Manufacturer’s Engine Manual] and so that the EGT margin is (a) at least the average EGT margin that is expected in the industry for an engine of the same model as the Engine fresh from performance restoration (determined on the basis of the Engine Manufacturer prescribed test cell conditions and procedures prevailing at the time of such shop visit) and (b) such that such Engine can reasonably be expected (as determined by the Engine Manufacturer if Lessor and Lessee fail to agree) to run for the average meantime between performance restorations (based on Engine Manufacturer data) for engines of the same model as the Engine

4. LLP Build Standard. The definition should require a minimum LLP build standard, the minimum to be based on the expected run-time between overhauls.  In other words, you don’t want the run-time requirements discussed in 3 above to be undercut by the engine being driven off-wing for an LLP replacement before the next anticipated performance restoration.

Some lessors may argue that 3 and 4 above are unnecessary so long as the lessor has a consent right over the planned workscope.  I don’t think that is right.  A consent right give you no protection over a failed performance restoration and a consent right will likely lead to a negotiation where the lessee will ask for additional (outside of the contract) contributions for what the lessee’s will describe as enhancements to the workscope not required by the lease agreement.  (Nonetheless, somewhere in the lease agreement the lessor should be given consent rights over each performance restoration workscope.)

Random notes:

1. For references to performance restoration where a high standard is not required, I suggest just using “performance restoration” (not defined) or using “Performance Restoration” as a defined term and defining it as follows: “means the off-wing maintenance of an Engine where, as a result of an overhaul or performance restoration, useable life is restored to the engine.”  As always, when using defined terms the drafter and reviewer each needs to be cognizant of both the definition and how it is used–when in doubt, search for the defined term throughout the document and make sure it is being used consistently–and, in each case, to your client’s advantage.

2. In two-way return compensation provisions, you will also need to provide for the “time since” calculation at delivery. As mentioned in a previous post, my preference is (where possible) to specify the date of the last relevant maintenance visit–rather than rely on a definition or description of the prior visit.

Four Biggest Mistakes Lessors Make in the Return Compensation Section

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Return compensation provisions in lease agreements are often poorly drafted. Given that these provisions generally require a multi-million dollar payment from the lessee to the lessor (or sometimes vice versa) you would think the drafting would be clear, precise and complete. Maybe it is the fact that the provisions don’t come into play for a long time. I don’t know.

In any case here are the four biggest (and surprisingly common) mistakes lessors make when drafting and negotiating the return compensation provisions in the lease agreement:

1. Starting with the most costly mistake, the parties will often fail to adequately describe the maintenance event that triggers the start of the return compensation calculation. For example, I have seen the following in a one-way return compensation provision: “Lessee will pay Lessor US$[__] for each hour of utilization of each Engine since such Engine’s last engine shop visit.” And “engine shop visit” is nowhere defined in the lease agreement. Sometimes the drafting is a little better and “engine shop visit” will be defined as, say, a performance restoration whereby useable life has been restored–a pretty low standard. The risk for the lessor in both of these examples is obvious; a shop visit with a minimal work scope will restart the return compensation clock and the return compensation payable to the lessor will not reflect the actual maintenance status of the engine and will fall short of the maintenance credit expected by the next lessee.

The problem is the same for airframe checks and landing gear and APU overhauls, though the range of possible workscopes is smaller and the dollar amounts for the APU and landing gear are smaller. But each should be well defined, including by a reference to the manufacturer’s requirements.

When return compensation is two-way (or “upsy-downsy”) equal care needs to be taken in describing the predelivery maintenance events, and my preference is (where possible) to specify by date each of the last relevant maintenance visits.

2. I really can’t understand this one: return comp provisions often lack any adjustment to the agreed dollar amounts for escalation, hour:cycle ratio changes (for engines), derate (for engines), minimum utilization (usually for airframes), etc. Whereas these adjustment will be dealt with in detail in maintenance reserve provisions, I will frequently see no such adjustments in return compensation provisions. Without escalation that US$150 per hour for engine performance restorations is going to look really puny at the end of a 12-year lease term.

(And remember to make sure the escalation formula provides for annual compounding.)

3. Maybe out of laziness, maybe to avoid conflict, maybe because there is a concern that maintenance costs may be much more expensive or cheaper than current costs, lessors and lessees often agree to the “two quotations” or “three quotations” method to determine the return compensation rates. In a common formulation each of the lessor and the lessee get quotations for the relevant maintenance events (heavy check, engine performance restoration, etc.) and use those quotations as a basis agreeing the per hour/cycle/month return compensation rate and in the absence of such agreement the quotations are averaged (or a third quotation obtained).

There are numerous problems with this approach for a lessor, including:

(a) Lessors always lose these type of negotiations. The lessee has possession of the aircraft and the lessee is likely to be the payer of the return compensation. In addition the lessor will likely be trying to lease other aircraft to the lessee. All the negotiating leverage is on the lessee’s side. In the end, if there is a disagreement the lessee will simply pay the lessor the amount the lessee thinks it owes, and put the burden on the lessor to either pursue the matter or give up.

(b) MROs are not in the business of providing accurate quotations for work they will not be performing (especially if the workscope is not precisely defined–see 1 above–and especially to lessors who as general matter don’t give much work to MROs)–and so such quotations will be difficult to get, may differ wildly and may be biased to the operator.

(c) As a drafting matter, the parties will generally forget to provide for adjustments to the amounts. No adjustment is necessary for escalation because the quotations method is in return date dollars, but hour:cycle and derate adjustments should still be provided.

(d) The quotations method will guarantee an acrimonious aircraft return. Most returns are already adversarial–the quotations method will take the acrimony to the next level.

4. Return compensation payments due from the lessee should be required to be made prior to return and, when due from the lessee, as a condition to return–that is, as a condition to the lessor’s obligation to accept return. I see most often the phrase “upon return,” which to me means either simultaneously with return or promptly thereafter. The lessee, when it is obligated to pay, will interpret “upon return” as promptly after return–and “prompt” to the lessee may not comply with your view of “prompt.” If you want to get paid promptly and in the correct amount then return compensation payments due from the lessee should be required to be made prior to return and, when due from the lessee, as a condition to return.