Principles of consolidation

        The Company consolidates financial statements of all entities in which we have a controlling financial interest, including the account of any Variable Interest Entity in which we have a controlling financial interest and for which we are thus the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Rental of flight equipment

        The Company leases flight equipment principally under operating leases and reports rental income ratably over the life of each lease. Rentals received, but unearned, under the lease agreements are recorded in Rentals received in advance on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet until earned. The difference between the rental income recorded and the cash received under the provisions of the lease is included in Lease receivables, as a component of Other assets on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. An allowance for doubtful accounts will be recognized for past-due rentals based on management's assessment of collectability. Management monitors all lessees with past due lease payments and discuss relevant operational and financial issues facing those lessees with its marketing executives in order to determine an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts. In addition, if collection is not reasonably assured, the Company will not recognize rental income for amounts due under the Company's lease contracts and will recognize revenue for such lessees on a cash basis. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had no such allowance, and no leases were on a cash basis.

        All of the Company's lease agreements are triple net leases whereby the lessee is responsible for all taxes, insurance, and aircraft maintenance. In the future, we may incur repair and maintenance expenses for off-lease aircraft. We recognize overhaul expense in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for all such expenditures. In many operating lease contracts, the lessee is obligated to make periodic payments of supplemental maintenance rent, which is calculated with reference to the utilization of the airframe, engines and other major life-limited components during the lease. In these leases, we will make a payment to the lessee to compensate the lessee for the cost of the actual major maintenance incurred, up to the maximum of the amount of supplemental maintenance rental payments made by the lessee during the lease term. These payments are made upon the lessee's presentation of invoices evidencing the completion of such qualifying major maintenance. The Company records as rental revenue, the portion of supplemental maintenance rent that is virtually certain will not be reimbursed to the lessee. Supplemental maintenance rental payments which we may be required to reimburse to the lessee are reflected in our overhaul reserve liability, as a component of Security deposits and overhaul reserves on flight equipment leases in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

        Lessee-specific modifications are capitalized as initial direct costs and amortized over the term of the lease into rental revenue in our Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Initial direct costs

        The Company records as period costs those internal and other costs incurred in connection with identifying, negotiating and delivering aircraft to the Company's lessees. Amounts paid by us to lessees, or other parties, in connection with the lease transactions are capitalized and amortized as a reduction to lease revenue over the lease term.

Cash and cash equivalents

        The Company considers cash and cash equivalents to be cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of 90 days or less.

Restricted cash

        Restricted cash consists of pledged security deposits, maintenance reserves, and rental payments related to secured aircraft financing arrangements.

Flight equipment

        Flight equipment under operating lease is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Purchases, major additions and modifications, and interest on deposits during the construction phase are capitalized. The Company generally depreciates passenger aircraft on a straight-line basis over a 25-year life from the date of manufacture to a 15% residual value. Changes in the assumption of useful lives or residual values for aircraft could have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.

        At the time flight equipment is retired or sold, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the related accounts and the difference, net of proceeds, is recorded as a gain or loss on our Consolidated Statement of Operations.

        Management evaluates on a quarterly basis the need to perform an impairment test whenever facts or circumstances indicate a potential impairment has occurred. An assessment is performed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an aircraft may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an aircraft's carrying amount is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the aircraft to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the aircraft. The undiscounted cash flows consist of cash flows from currently contracted leases, future projected lease rates and estimated residual or scrap values for each aircraft. We develop assumptions used in the recoverability analysis based on our knowledge of active lease contracts, current and future expectations of the global demand for a particular aircraft type, and historical experience in the aircraft leasing market and aviation industry, as well as information received from third-party industry sources. The factors considered in estimating the undiscounted cash flows are affected by changes in future periods due to changes in contracted lease rates, economic conditions, technology and airline demand for a particular aircraft type. In the event that an aircraft does not meet the recoverability test, the aircraft will be recorded at fair value in accordance with the Company's Fair Value Policy, resulting in an impairment charge. Our Fair Value Policy is described below under "Fair Value Measurements". As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, no impairment charges have been incurred to date.

Capitalized interest

        The Company may borrow funds to finance deposits on new flight equipment purchases. The Company capitalizes interest expense on such borrowings. The capitalized amount is calculated using our composite borrowing rate and is recorded as an increase to the cost of the flight equipment on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Fair value measurements

        Fair value is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company measures the fair value of certain assets on a non-recurring basis, principally our flight equipment, when Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") requires the application of fair value, including events or changes in circumstances that indicate that the carrying amounts of assets may not be recoverable.

        The Company records flight equipment at fair value when we determine the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company principally uses the income approach to measure the fair value of flight equipment. The income approach is based on the present value of cash flows from contractual lease agreements and projected future lease payments, including contingent rentals, net of expenses, which extend to the end of the aircraft's economic life in its highest and best use configuration, as well as a disposition value based on expectations of market participants. These valuations are considered Level 3 valuations, as the valuations contain significant non-observable inputs.

Income taxes

        The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of "temporary differences" by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in the tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when the probability of realization of the full value of the asset is less than 50%. The Company recognizes the impact of a tax position, if that position is more than 50% likely to be sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

        The Company recognizes interest and penalties for uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Deferred costs

        The Company incurs debt issue costs in connection with debt financings. Those costs are deferred and amortized over the life of the specific loan using the effective interest method and charged to interest expense. The Company also incurs costs in connection with equity offerings. Such costs are deferred until the equity offering is completed and either netted against the equity raised, or expensed if the equity offering is abandoned.

Stock-based compensation

        Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. The Company recognizes compensation costs for shares that are expected to vest, on a straight-line basis, over the requisite service period of the award.

Use of estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.