Under the Radar: Alts in Aircraft Leasing with Jeff Rehm of Flight Lease | Episode 008 | 06-25-26
In this episode of Alternate View, Jeff Rehm, Managing Director of Flight Lease, joins Matt Andrulot to explore one of the most overlooked corners of alternative investing: aircraft lending and leasing.
From passenger aircraft and cargo conversions to engines, maintenance reserves, and aviation arbitrage, Jeff explains how investors can gain exposure to tangible aviation assets while capitalizing on market inefficiencies created by fleet transitions, global demand, and decades of industry expertise.
Whether you’re an RIA, sophisticated investor, or simply curious about alternative investments, this episode provides an inside look at how one of the world’s most specialized asset classes operates—and why it’s attracting investor attention.
We cover:
• How aircraft lending and leasing actually works
• Why airlines lease aircraft instead of owning them
• How Flight Lease identifies arbitrage opportunities across aviation assets
• The role of data, maintenance records, and industry relationships in underwriting investments
• Why passenger-to-cargo aircraft conversions have become such a compelling opportunity
• How investors think about risk, duration, and tangible asset ownership in aviation
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – Jeff Rehm’s background & Flight Lease
03:00 – What aircraft lending and leasing looks like
07:00 – Understanding airline fleet transitions
10:00 – Why aviation is a data-rich industry
14:30 – Aircraft engines, maintenance reserves & leasing economics
20:30 – Risk, insurance & underwriting aviation assets
26:00 – Passenger-to-cargo conversions
31:00 – Building relationships across the aviation industry
33:30 – Final thoughts
If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of alternative investments beyond traditional private equity and real estate, this episode offers a fascinating look inside the business of aircraft leasing and the investment opportunities that keep global aviation moving.
🔗 Links
All Episodes at: https://AlternateView.FM
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen!
#AlternativeInvestments #AircraftLeasing #Aviation #PrivateMarkets #AlternativeInvesting #PrivateEquity #PrivateCredit #InvestingPodcast #RIAs #UHNWInvesting #AviationFinance #Podcast #InvestingTips #planes
