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
PTC rectangle

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
Security & Policing 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
ECS leaderboard banner
Westwire opens new Swindon facility

Aerospace Defence

Westwire opens new Swindon facility

6 February 2026

Westwire Harnessing, has opened its second UK manufacturing facility in Swindon.

BAE Systems launches Launchpad incubator

Aerospace Defence

BAE Systems launches Launchpad incubator

6 February 2026

BAE Systems has launched Launchpad, a new technology incubator programme designed to take dual-use technologies beyond the defence sector and help cutting-edge innovations reach their full commercial potential.

Birmingham Airport aims to secure direct connection to New York

Aerospace

Birmingham Airport aims to secure direct connection to New York

6 February 2026

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has announced a targeted, financial support package on offer to airlines that looks to attract direct connectivity between BHX and New York, reinforcing the airport’s commitment to the growth of long haul into global markets.

ITSA sees UK connector sales rise in 2025

Aerospace Defence Security Space

ITSA sees UK connector sales rise in 2025

5 February 2026

The Interconnect Technology Suppliers Association (ITSA) has revealed its members reported sales in 2025 were up by 5% over 2024 but that orders and business to business sales, were flat.

Advertisement
ODU RT
CAA sets guidance on emissions information

Aerospace

CAA sets guidance on emissions information

5 February 2026

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today published a new framework that sets out guidance and principles on the information airlines and other booking organisations should provide to passengers.

Returning to STEM after career break becomes harder than ever

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Returning to STEM after career break becomes harder than ever

4 February 2026

Returning to STEM industries after a career break is now harder than ever, according to new research by STEM Returners, with bias against gender, age, ethnicity and a lack of recent experience penalising highly qualified people from getting a job.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
Advertisement
Babcock LB Babcock LB