Aircraft for Africa (AFA)

What Aircraft for Africa (AFA) does

Aircraft for Africa (AFA) is a South Africa-based pre-owned aircraft brokerage founded in 2012 by Deborah Nicholls. The company connects buyers and sellers of used helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft across Africa and internationally, offering categorized inventory listings (piston and turbine helicopters from Robinson, Bell, McDonnell Douglas, and Leonardo; fixed-wing aircraft from piston singles to corporate jets including Cessna, Beechcraft, Pilatus, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer, ATR, and Boeing) alongside aircraft acquisition and sell-side representation services. AFA documents 21+ fixed-wing aircraft sold since inception and operates with a global reach claim despite its South African base.

AFA's revenue model rests on three streams: transaction commissions on aircraft sales, professional fees for sourcing/acquisition services, and a 10%-of-net-profit Referral Partner Programme that pays pilots, instructors, and aviation contacts for closed referrals. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, leveraging an international network of contacts, a multi-platform social presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), an email newsletter, and direct sales via the website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; transactions are quote-based given the variability in aircraft type, condition, hours, and specifications.

The team combines founder-led marketing expertise (Deborah Nicholls) with deep aviation operating credentials across Laurence Nicholls (50+ years commercial pilot, ex-Jet Freighters Sub-Saharan Africa), Johan Borstlap (40+ years ATP, ex-MD at BOP Air and Sun Air), and Gert Mouton (49 years, ex-Aircraft Sales Manager at Placo). The company maintains no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, API, or integration capabilities; no AI/ML capabilities are evidenced. The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, no subsidiaries, and no public revenue figures.

Name

Aircraft for Africa (AFA)

Legal name

Aircraft for Africa (AFA)

Website

https://aircraftforafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aircraft for Africa (AFA) is a South Africa-based brokerage founded in 2012 that buys, sells, and sources pre-owned helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for aviation professionals and operators across Africa and internationally, earning commissions on transactions and acquisition services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Brokerage Services

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)

SIC

Aircraft (3721)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & General Aviation Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAC)

Keywords

• Used helicopter sales
• Pre-owned aircraft brokerage
• Aircraft acquisition services
• Fixed-wing aircraft trading
• Aviation brokerage services

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Sales Commission: The company earns commissions on aircraft sales transactions, connecting buyers and sellers of pre-owned aircraft across Africa and internationally.
2. Aircraft Acquisition Services: Aircraft sourcing services where the company helps clients find specific aircraft (helicopters and fixed wing) on their behalf, facilitating the acquisition process.
3. Referral Partner Commission: The company operates a referral partner programme offering 10% commission on net profit for each closed transaction referred by partners such as pilots and flying instructors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aircraft for Africa (AFA) is an aircraft brokerage firm that sells and brokers pre-owned helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft across Africa and international markets. The company operates as an intermediary connecting buyers and sellers of second-hand aircraft, and also offers aircraft acquisition and sourcing services for clients seeking specific airframes.

Product overview

Aircraft for Africa (AFA) operates as a pre-owned aircraft sales platform offering two core product lines: helicopters for sale (including piston variants like Robinson R44 Raven II and turbine models such as Bell, McDonnell Douglas, Leonardo, and Robinson R66) and fixed wing aircraft for sale (covering piston aircraft, turboprop, airliners, and corporate jets). The company complements its sales inventory with service offerings including aircraft acquisition (sourcing specific aircraft on behalf of clients), sell-your-aircraft services (marketing and sales representation), and a Referral Partner Programme (commission-based referrals for aviation professionals). The business model connects buyers and sellers of pre-owned aircraft across Africa and internationally through a network of industry contacts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-owned Helicopter Brokerage Sales and brokerage of pre-owned helicopters for aviation professionals and operators across Africa and international markets. The service connects helicopter sellers with qualified buyers, handling listings, negotiations, and transaction coordination.
• Pre-owned Fixed-Wing Aircraft Brokerage Sales and brokerage of pre-owned fixed-wing aircraft for aviation professionals, charter operators, and organizations. The service handles listings, buyer introductions, and sales coordination across Africa and international markets.
• Aircraft Acquisition and Sourcing Service Sourcing service that helps clients locate and acquire specific pre-owned helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft matching their operational requirements. Targeted at operators and organizations with defined mission profiles.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aviatrade: Aircraft broker and consultancy trading pre-owned business jets and helicopters internationally. Directly comparable in sales-led, commission-based intermediation of pre-owned aircraft, similar to AFA's buyer/seller representation services.
• Trade-A-Plane: Long-standing classifieds and dealer marketplace for new and used aircraft, helicopters, and parts. Comparable in that it aggregates pre-owned aircraft listings and dealer offerings, although AFA differentiates via offline brokerage rather than self-serve listings.
• OGARA JET: Aircraft brokerage and acquisition firm specializing in pre-owned business jets and turboprops. Directly comparable in that it sells/brokers used aircraft on commission, with similar reliance on senior pilot relationships and off-market deal flow.
• JetBrokers: International pre-owned aircraft brokerage that matches buyers and sellers of business jets and turboprops. Directly comparable to AFA because both operate as commission-based aircraft brokers intermediating secondary-market transactions rather than manufacturing.
• Avpro Inc. One of the largest business aircraft brokerages globally, with transaction, acquisition, and trade-in services for pre-owned jets. Closely mirrors AFA's buyer-representation, seller-representation, and off-market sourcing model, just at materially larger scale.
• GlobalAir.com: Online aircraft marketplace and brokerage connecting buyers and sellers of pre-owned single-engine, multi-engine, and turbine aircraft. Similar broker/dealer role to AFA, with comparable inventory categories across piston, turboprop, and jets.

Regional players

• Lyon Aviation: Aircraft management, charter, and sales/brokerage operator with strong North American focus. Comparable through its pre-owned aircraft sales brokerage function, though it primarily serves a different geography than AFA's Africa-centric base.

Broad incumbents

• Duncan Aviation: Large business aviation services company providing MRO, parts, and aircraft sales/brokerage. Comparable to AFA in its pre-owned aircraft trading and acquisition services, though Duncan operates as a much broader incumbent across the aviation services value chain.
• JETNET (Rolta AdvizeX): Aviation market intelligence platform providing ownership, transaction history, and fleet data on pre-owned aircraft. Relevant to AFA because JETNET underpins broker deal-sourcing workflows in the secondary market, even though it is data/infrastructure rather than a direct competitor.
• AvBuyer: Large online aviation marketplace combining aircraft listings, broker directories, and editorial. Comparable to AFA as a channel connecting pre-owned aircraft buyers and sellers, though it operates as a broader marketplace rather than a pure commission broker.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyJfKyRHRliHxYIs-0pBH2w
• Facebookfacebook.com/afawithdeborah
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aircraft-for-africa-afa
• Instagraminstagram.com/afawithdeborah

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aircraft for Africa (AFA)