Aircraft procurement can require meaningful payments before the buyer receives a usable asset. Rajeev Khandelwal’s professional landscape includes aviation alliances and financial structuring, making this timing issue commercially relevant. Deposits and progress payments support a procurement programme, but they also create exposure to delivery schedules, contractual conditions and the buyer’s future financing capacity. Signing and delivery are distinct milestones in the capital plan.
Map the payment sequence
The buyer should identify which payments are refundable, conditional or committed at each stage. The schedule must align with accessible funding rather than a general expectation of future investment. An early deposit can appear modest beside the total purchase price while still becoming significant if several aircraft are ordered. Portfolio-level visibility helps management understand the cumulative cash committed before any of the new capacity begins producing revenue.
Consider the delivery gap
Manufacturing delays, configuration changes and acceptance issues can extend the period between payment and operation. The financing plan should show what costs continue during that interval. Crew recruitment, facilities and training may already be under way. A delayed aircraft can therefore affect more than the purchase schedule, particularly if customer commitments or existing fleet retirements were planned around the expected arrival date.
Coordinate final financing
A deposit does not guarantee that the remaining purchase price will be funded on acceptable terms. The buyer needs a clear route to final payment, including the conditions expected by lenders or lessors. Changes in business performance or asset valuation can affect that route. A procurement strategy should preserve workable alternatives rather than allow earlier commitments to force a rushed financing decision shortly before delivery.
Procurement is a capital programme
Aerosphere’s aviation-asset focus and Credit Connect’s financing disciplines connect this issue to Rajeev’s wider ecosystem. The West Rift programme’s documented letter of intent also demonstrates the importance of identifying the specific instrument and stage. The financial lesson extends beyond any single programme: aircraft commitments should be evaluated as a sequence of obligations, with each payment linked to evidence, financing capacity and operational readiness.
