Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Cayman Islands-based Aviation Management Services (AMS, Booth C11022) and MLR Worldwide Aviation Services (MLR) have entered into a new business relationship focused on the leasing aspects of aircraft ownership and management. The deal brings a company specializing in business aviation (AMS) into close cooperation with one focused primarily on airlines (MLR).

 


“We’ve developed a new offshore leaseback program, geared mostly for the U.S. market, but it can be applied to Canada too,” William Mermelstein, CEO and founding partner of AMS, said on Monday at NBAA 2017. “It meets all the current FAA and IRS regulations.”

 


He explained that while AMS specializes in “all aspects of aircraft ownership,” offering fixed-price programs, MLR brings capabilities in the planning and audit aspects of commercial aircraft management, the oversight and scheduling of maintenance and lease inspections.

 


Mermelstein introduced Marvin Ruthenberg, president and CEO of MLR Worldwide Aviation Services, saying, “Marvin and I have teamed up. We’re focusing towards the leasing part of the business,” in particular head-of-state and royal flights and other non-airline users of large commercial aircraft, where aircraft managers require in-depth knowledge both of air transport aircraft and private operations.

 


Ruthenberg told AIN his company could check the lease and help audit the aircraft, do a pre-lease inspection and check contracts. “The most important part of the lease is the return conditions–in many cases people overlook them and it really can come back to bite the operator. Many times we have to clean up the mess.”

 


He explained that many owners of aircraft don’t understand their own flight departments. Mermelstein said, “AMS helps the owner through the process of getting registration, addressing airworthiness issues.”

 


It also offers financial due-diligence audits that take a few days but are very thorough, with a report provided a month or so later. This has proven particularly popular where the entity owning the aircraft doesn’t fully understand its flight department. “Forty percent of an audit is financial and is about educating the finance people,” said Mermelstein.

 


An example could be where those overseeing the finances think they are running things at a low cost, but they don’t realize—not having in-depth knowledge of aircraft management—that there is no provision for a maintenance reserve. This could mean there’s a $2 million bill for a repair just around the corner, explained Mermelstein.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

AMS Cayman Signs Leasing Accord with MLR

Two companies bring vast experience in airliner and business jet management with a focus on airliners leased by non-scheduled operators.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Nearly 60% of operators surveyed cited tariff uncertainty as a reason to delay purchases

Analyst Report Spotlights Harm of Tariffs to Bizav

Amy Wilder

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Utility-configured aircraft led pricing gains

Aero Asset Reports Single-engine Helo Price Surge Trend

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Agreement avoids 15% tariffs that go into effect for other products on August 1

U.S.-EU Trade Deal Spares Aerospace from Tariffs

Curt Epstein

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

NBAA-BACE 2017

More In Finance, Taxes, Insurance

Analyst Report Spotlights Harm of Tariffs to Bizav

Nearly 60% of operators surveyed cited tariff uncertainty as a reason to delay purchases

Aero Asset Reports Single-engine Helo Price Surge Trend

Utility-configured aircraft led pricing gains

U.S.-EU Trade Deal Spares Aerospace from Tariffs

Agreement avoids 15% tariffs that go into effect for other products on August 1

Titan Aerospace Insurance Offers Plan for Branded FBOs

The Titan Fuels company is increasing its products for Titan-branded FBOs

Embraer Reaches Record Backlog for E-Jets in 2Q2025

The Brazilian airframer has nearly $30 billion in financial committments

Defense Bolsters Dassault, Trappier Decries U.S. Tariffs

The French group’s first-half order intake grew 57% in the first half of 2025

Safran Completes Acquisition of Collins’ Flight Controls

The Collins business is now part of the Safran Electronics & Defense division

Vertical Raises $60 Million for VX4 eVTOL Aircraft Development

UK start-up says it now has cash to support work on the four-passenger aircraft through mid-2026

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