Founded in 2007 with headquarters in the Netherlands , Softflight is an independent finance company specializing in the Flight Simulator industry. Softflight offers customized simulator lease constructions as well as turnkey solutions for simulator centers. Softflight operates worldwide with a team of experienced financial professionals, providing its customers with the highest level of expertise available in the market. The creation of Softflight began with the awareness that finance companies were not focusing on the simulator market, despite the obvious opportunities, and that this left a niche to be filled. Whereas aircraft are commonly leased, simulators are not, despite the fact that the life expectancy of a simulator is approximately 25 years, almost equal to that of aircraft, and the depreciation of a simulator is similar to that of an aircraft, but with less risk to a financier. The creators of Softflight enjoy decades of experience in the airline industry, and after realizing that finance companies were not knowledgeable about the simulator industry they decided to use their expertise to create their own financial service and become the preferred partner in the market, coupling the backing of a financial company with the mind of an airline. When a company invests in a Flight Simulator some decisions need to be made regarding: Cost of funding Purchase or Lease Cash now or Cash later Ownership now or ownership later Value risks yes or no Flexibility Period of use Debt or equity Currency exposure One of the main considerations is whether the equipment should be purchased, necessitating a loan, or leased. The value of a simulator lies in the usage, not in the ownership; therefore leasing frees up cash that can better be used elsewhere in the company, while keeping the company balance sheet free of outstanding credit. Company's General Manager is Mr. Marty van Veluw.