The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) has launched IADA U, an education programme designed to keep its brokers and transaction experts at the very top of their professions. The programme is a continuation of IADA's major initiative to professionalise the aircraft transaction industry with a clear focus on integrity in transactions.

IADA U was created to sharpen the skills of IADA experts in all aspects of aircraft transactions, including operations, maintenance and management. Courses utilise the Absorb Learning Management System, featuring videos, support material, quizzes and tests. Course progress is charted.

“IADA U is the intellectual powerhouse behind our organisation's cornerstone accreditation programme for aircraft dealers and certification programme for individual brokers,” says IADA chairman Joe Carfagna, Jr. “It was the brainchild of last year's IADA chairman Paul Kirby who saw the need for developing a thorough system guaranteed to keep IADA members at the top of their game in an ever-changing marketplace. We want our clients to have the comfort of knowing they are getting the very best transaction professionals available anywhere in the world.”

The curriculum of the online business aviation programme covers a wide range of topical courses taught by IADA's products and services experts and industry influencers. The programme is supported by Joseph Allan Aviation Consulting.

IADA U features best in class software technology, audience specific experienced instructors, reporting and analytics. The Absorb system design is customised to the IADA brand with an intuitive interface, and it is also scalable for future growth. Learners and instructors will have dedicated technical and executive support to ensure content integrity.

The course syllabus covers aircraft purchase agreements, business use of general aviation aircraft, digital signing technology, IADA policies and procedures, sales and use tax, tax depreciation and expensing, the export process, and the import process. IADA broker certifications require this continuing education to stay current. IADA accredited dealers also benefit by permitting two non-sales users each per year and IADA verified products and services members also receive at least two users per year and more when they participate with expert instructors.

Since 2019 when the dual programmes to boost competence and integrity began, IADA has expanded its membership by 13 additional dealers or nearly 30 per cent. Moreover, more than 100 aircraft brokers are engaged by the organisation's 46 IADA-accredited dealers and six OEM members. Collectively, the group represents the top seven per cent of the world's aircraft transaction experts, doing business in more than 100 countries. Additionally, IADA-verified products and services (P&S) membership has expanded over that same time period by 14, to a total of 62 P&S members who handle all technical aspects of aircraft sales and purchases.

The organisation lists more than 500 business aircraft for sale on its site, ranging from turboprops to VVIP long range business jets.

During 2020, the need for financial assistance for college students seeking scholarship aid from the IADA Foundation reached a new high. More than 100 qualified applicants sought educational financial support through their colleges' financial offices. Recently, the IADA Foundation gained status as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable organisation that provides aviation scholarships to students seeking careers in business aviation and other industry specific charitable contributions, all of which ensure the long-term success of business aviation.