Q&A With John Vitale of AVITAS, 2026 recipient of the ISTAT Award
As the 2026 recipient of the ISTAT Award, John Vitale, senior advisor and member of the board of AVITAS Inc., brings nearly three decades of leadership, valuation expertise and institutional memory to the conversation. In this wide-ranging Q&A, the longtime president and CEO of AVITAS reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to aircraft valuation, the evolution of the aviation finance industry, the role of relationships in an opaque market and the enduring value of ISTAT as the industry’s connective tissue.