Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • IBA fields the world’s largest team of senior certified ISTAT Appraisers

Aerospace

IBA fields the world’s largest team of senior certified ISTAT Appraisers

Specialist aviation consultancy, Leatherhead-based IBA Group, has become home to the world’s largest team of appraisal experts with the new qualification of Youcef Berour Minarr.

Berour Minarro (right)  joined IBA in 2015 as an aviation analyst within the Commercial Aviation Intelligence (CAI) department responsible for aircraft appraisals, market studies, consultancy, research and publications. In 2018, he was promoted to the position of Senior Analyst and he has now qualified as an International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Certified Appraiser.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Recent projects coordinated by Berour Minarro include management of several European airport slot transactions where airlines have been using their slot values for financing purposes. IBA was involved in the first ever transaction involving Virgin Atlantic using their LHR slots to raise funds for Boeing 787-9 purchases.  He also recently advised a Middle Eastern airline on the value of their fleet for value impairment purposes in compliance with IFRS requirements.

Berour Minarro feels that choosing to become an ISTAT Certified Appraiser develops many personal skills: “Being part of a society with more than 5,000 members including airlines, banks and leasing companies certainly allows great access and insight into market intelligence which allows an appraiser to be well informed. Nowadays the ability to field an ISTAT Certified Appraiser is becoming a stated requirement, and IBA’s expertise and services is in demand for increasingly complex projects. Ensuring an aircraft or fleet appraisal is provided by a credible source that abides by strict guidelines is comforting to lessors, airlines and banks alike.”

To become an ISTAT Certified Appraiser applicants must first enrol onto the ISTAT Appraiser Programme which has various requirements including education (Bachelor’s Degree) and requires a minimum of five years’ full–time employment in aviation–related business, of which no less than two years would be spent in accomplishing aircraft appraisals. Once enrolled, candidates must be an ISTAT member for one year and then take exams. “Youcef completed his exams at ISTAT Orlando in March 2019, and he passed all four written exams consisting of Finance, Technical, Appraisal and Ethics first time which is a great achievement” said ISTAT Fellow Phil Seymour, CEO of IBA.

Berour Minarro is responsible for IBA’s business jet and commercial aircraft appraisals as well as those for niche assets. His specialities include modelling, damage value diminution and intangible asset valuations such as airport landing and departure slots. Youcef also acts as writer for various industry publications including Air Finance Journal.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

Berour Minarro graduated from Kingston University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours Degree in Aircraft Engineering. In conjunction with his degree, Youcef completed an exclusive EASA B1 Aircraft Engineering License course at KLM UK Engineering Technical College (EASA Part 147 Approved) at Norwich Airport making him a part-qualified EASA Part 66 B1 Licensed Aircraft Engineer. Most recently, Youcef completed an Aviation Auditor Training course in Germany.
Prior to working at IBA, Berour Minarro worked as a Flight Data Analysis Engineer at Muirhead Avionics (Ametek MRO) where he analysed Flight Data Recorders.

IBA’s team of ISTAT Appraisers includes:                 
-    Phil Seymour (Chief Executive Officer) – ISTAT Appraiser Fellow
-    Dr Stuart Hatcher (Chief Operating Officer) - Senior ISTAT Certified Appraiser
-    Mike Yeomans (Head of Valuations) – Senior ISTAT Certified Appraiser
-    Alice Gondry (Head of Data Intelligence Services) – Senior ISTAT Certified Appraiser
-    Jonathan McDonald (Head Analyst – Commercial and Ageing Aircraft) – Senior ISTAT Certified Appraiser
-    Youcef Berour Minarro (Senior Analyst) – ISTAT Certified Appraiser


 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
Cranfield steps up in 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings

Aerospace

Cranfield steps up in 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings

3 February 2026

Cranfield University has strengthened its global position in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 – now ranking in the top 10% of universities worldwide.

Global aircraft deliveries in 2025 highest in seven years

Aerospace

Global aircraft deliveries in 2025 highest in seven years

3 February 2026

More aircraft were delivered in 2025 than in the previous seven years, with 25% more aircraft delivered in 2025 than in 2024 – at 1,411 compared with 1,128 the previous year – according to ADS, the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

ABT sets framework for OEM battery development

Aerospace Defence Security

ABT sets framework for OEM battery development

2 February 2026

UK battery pack manufacturer Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT), has set out a clearer framework for how OEMs can approach battery development.

AGS secures £745m refinancing package

Aerospace

AGS secures £745m refinancing package

2 February 2026

AGS Airports (AGS) - which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports and collectively handles over 11 million passengers annually - has completed a £745 million refinancing package, with support from Allied Irish Bank (AIB).

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
Helen Hardy appointed CEO of CILT (UK)

Aerospace

Helen Hardy appointed CEO of CILT (UK)

2 February 2026

The Board of Trustees of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Helen Hardy as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following a successful seven-month period as Interim CEO.

Report exposes airports’ long term investment and financial viability challenge

Aerospace

Report exposes airports’ long term investment and financial viability challenge

2 February 2026

ACI EUROPE recently released a landmark report on the future viability of the airport industry, based on research conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG): 'Decoupling Financial Viability from Volume Growth: Charting the Way Forward for Europe’s Airports'.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Babcock LB Babcock LB