Need your aircraft moved—but not necessarily sold or delivered to a new owner?
Ferry Flight USA provides professional aircraft repositioning services throughout the United States, helping aircraft owners, operators, flight schools, flying clubs, brokers, dealers, maintenance facilities, aircraft management companies and corporate flight departments move aircraft efficiently from one operating location to another.
Aircraft repositioning may be needed for something as simple as changing hangars or as complex as moving an entire fleet between operating bases.
Whether your aircraft needs to move 100 miles or across the country, Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the pilot, route planning and relocation logistics required to get the aircraft where it needs to be.
Our repositioning network supports qualifying:
Piston singles
Piston twins
Complex aircraft
High-performance aircraft
Selected turbine aircraft
Selected light and midsize business jets
Pilot assignment depends on aircraft type, ratings, experience, insurance requirements and mission needs.
REQUEST AN AIRCRAFT REPOSITIONING QUOTE
Aircraft repositioning is the movement of an aircraft from one airport or operating location to another without the primary purpose being passenger transportation.
The aircraft itself is the reason for the flight.
Aircraft repositioning is commonly used when:
An aircraft changes home airports
An owner relocates
An aircraft moves between company bases
A flight school transfers aircraft between locations
A flying club redistributes its fleet
An aircraft is moved to or from maintenance
A dealer relocates inventory
A corporate flight department needs an aircraft at another base
An aircraft management company needs fleet support
An aircraft is moved seasonally
A lease or finance arrangement requires relocation
An aircraft needs to be positioned for a sale, inspection or event
In aviation, these missions may also be described as:
Aircraft relocation
Aircraft positioning
Airplane repositioning
Ferry flights
Positioning flights
Fleet repositioning
Aircraft transfer flights
Ferry Flight USA helps coordinate these missions nationwide.
Aircraft repositioning and aircraft delivery often involve similar flying, but the reason for the flight is different.
Aircraft delivery often involves moving an airplane to:
A new buyer
A new owner
A final destination after purchase
A customer after an aircraft sale
Aircraft repositioning is more commonly operational.
Examples include moving an aircraft:
Between company bases
Between flight-school locations
To another hangar
To a maintenance facility
To an avionics shop
To a paint facility
To a seasonal location
Between dealer inventory locations
Between managed fleet locations
If your aircraft simply needs to be somewhere else, aircraft repositioning is often the appropriate service.
Private aircraft owners often need their airplanes relocated for reasons unrelated to a sale.
You may need an aircraft repositioning pilot if:
You are moving to another city or state
Your hangar is changing
You purchased hangar space at another airport
Your airplane is stored away from your home airport
You keep aircraft at multiple residences
You do not have time to make the flight
You want the aircraft waiting at another destination
The aircraft is returning from maintenance
You need the airplane moved before or after an extended trip
Instead of losing one or more days to airline travel, rental cars and a long cross-country flight, an aircraft repositioning pilot can manage the movement for you.
Flight schools frequently move airplanes between operating locations.
Fleet repositioning may be necessary when:
One base has higher student demand
An aircraft is being transferred permanently
A new aircraft joins the fleet
An aircraft needs maintenance at another airport
Seasonal training demand changes
Aircraft are moved for special events
A school opens a new location
An aircraft is being sold or replaced
Ferry Flight USA can support flight schools with single-aircraft moves or larger fleet repositioning requirements.
Using an outside repositioning pilot can prevent flight schools from taking instructors away from students simply to relocate airplanes.
That can reduce scheduling disruption and help keep revenue-producing training activity moving.
Explore Flight School Fleet Repositioning
Flying clubs may need aircraft moved between:
Club bases
Maintenance shops
Annual inspection facilities
Aircraft paint facilities
Avionics shops
Member events
Fly-ins
Temporary operating locations
A club may also acquire an aircraft in another state and need it positioned before member operations begin.
Ferry Flight USA can help clubs coordinate these aircraft movements without requiring a club officer, instructor or member to give up several days for the relocation.
Aircraft dealers and brokers often need airplanes positioned strategically before, during or after a transaction.
Common dealer and broker repositioning missions include:
Move aircraft between dealership locations or airports.
Relocate an aircraft for photography, demonstrations, maintenance or sales activity.
Move an aircraft to a buyer-selected inspection facility.
Reposition or deliver the aircraft following closing.
Move trade-in aircraft to another dealer location.
Relocate newly acquired inventory.
Having access to a professional aircraft repositioning network can help dealers and brokers move inventory without tying up internal personnel.
Explore Dealer & Broker Ferry Services
Corporate flight departments often operate aircraft across multiple locations.
Aircraft may need to move because of:
Crew scheduling
Maintenance
Charter or operational requirements
Executive travel positioning
Hangar changes
Fleet management
Base changes
Aircraft sales or acquisitions
When internal flight crews are unavailable—or better utilized elsewhere—Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate aircraft repositioning support.
Selected turbine and business jet missions are available depending on:
Aircraft type
Crew requirements
Type-rating requirements
Pilot availability
Insurance requirements
Operator requirements
Explore Corporate Aircraft Repositioning
Aircraft management companies frequently oversee multiple aircraft for multiple owners.
That can create a recurring need for repositioning support.
Ferry Flight USA can assist management companies with aircraft movements involving:
Maintenance
Inspection
Storage
Base changes
New owner transitions
Paint or interior work
Avionics upgrades
Aircraft sales
Lease transitions
Seasonal moves
Our objective is to give aircraft management companies another resource for moving aircraft when internal crew availability is limited.
Aircraft owners do not always have access to the maintenance provider they want at their home airport.
Sometimes the best option is hundreds of miles away.
Ferry Flight USA can reposition aircraft to and from facilities providing:
Annual inspections
Engine maintenance
Engine overhaul
Propeller work
Avionics installation
Aircraft paint
Interior refurbishment
Structural repair
Specialty maintenance
Manufacturer service
Once the work is finished, we can also coordinate the aircraft’s return.
Explore Maintenance Ferry Flights
Major avionics upgrades can require specialized shops and significant downtime.
Owners may need their aircraft repositioned for installations such as:
Garmin avionics upgrades
GPS navigators
Glass-panel conversions
Autopilot installations
ADS-B systems
Transponders
Engine monitors
Audio panels
Navigation and communication equipment
Rather than spending time dropping off and retrieving the aircraft, owners can use an aircraft repositioning service to handle one or both legs.
Explore Avionics Shop Ferry Flights
Quality aircraft paint shops serve customers from large geographic areas.
That can mean moving the aircraft hundreds—or even thousands—of miles.
Ferry Flight USA can help reposition qualifying aircraft:
To the paint shop
and
Back to the owner’s airport after completion.
This allows the owner to focus on the project instead of arranging separate airline travel and long cross-country flights.
Explore Paint Shop Ferry Flights
Many aircraft owners develop long-term relationships with trusted A&P mechanics and Inspection Authorization holders.
When that maintenance provider is located at another airport, Ferry Flight USA can help move the aircraft for its annual inspection.
After return to service, the aircraft can be repositioned back to its home airport.
Explore Annual Inspection Repositioning
Aircraft purchase transactions sometimes require the airplane to move before the sale closes.
A buyer may want the aircraft inspected at:
A manufacturer service center
A specialist familiar with the aircraft
An independent maintenance shop
A neutral inspection facility
When appropriate arrangements are in place, Ferry Flight USA can help reposition the aircraft for the pre-purchase inspection.
Explore Pre-Buy Inspection Repositioning
Some aircraft owners operate from different parts of the country during different seasons.
Common seasonal movements may include:
Northeast to Florida
Midwest to Florida
Florida to the Northeast
Florida to the Carolinas
Arizona to cooler summer locations
Mountain West seasonal repositioning
Snowbird aircraft relocation
Aircraft repositioning can allow an owner to travel commercially while the airplane is moved separately.
When the owner arrives, the aircraft can already be waiting at the destination.
Explore Seasonal Aircraft Relocation
Organizations operating more than one aircraft sometimes need multiple airplanes moved.
This can include:
Flight schools
Flying clubs
Aircraft dealerships
Aircraft management companies
Corporate operators
Leasing companies
Aviation businesses
Ferry Flight USA can evaluate multi-aircraft repositioning requirements and coordinate qualified pilots based on:
Aircraft type
Number of airplanes
Origin airports
Destination airports
Scheduling
Pilot availability
Aircraft-specific requirements
For larger fleet moves, planning becomes especially important because aircraft and pilot schedules must be coordinated efficiently.
Ferry Flight USA supports qualifying repositioning missions throughout the United States.
Aircraft can be relocated throughout:
Florida
California
Texas
Arizona
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Illinois
Colorado
Nevada
Washington
Oregon
The Northeast
The Southeast
The Midwest
The Southwest
The Mountain West
The West Coast
And nationwide.
We can support both regional and long-distance positioning missions.
Cross-country repositioning requires more planning than a short regional move.
A long-distance ferry flight may involve:
Multiple fuel stops
Weather systems
Strong headwinds
Terrain
Mountain crossings
Restricted or complex airspace
Airport operating hours
Fuel availability
Overnight stops
Maintenance concerns
The aircraft’s performance also matters.
For example, a Cessna 172 crossing the country has very different route, range and time requirements than a Cirrus SR22, Baron, Aerostar or business jet.
The mission should therefore be planned around the specific aircraft rather than simply drawing a straight line between two airports.
Ferry Flight USA can support qualifying single-engine piston aircraft from manufacturers including:
Cessna
Piper
Cirrus
Beechcraft
Mooney
Diamond
Grumman
Tecnam
Maule
American Champion
Common repositioning aircraft may include:
Cessna 150
Cessna 152
Cessna 172
Cessna 182
Cessna 206
Piper Cherokee
Piper Warrior
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Piper Saratoga
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR22
Beechcraft Bonanza
Mooney models
Diamond DA40
Qualifying multi-engine aircraft may include:
Piper Seminole
Piper Seneca
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Beechcraft Baron
Cessna 310
Cessna 340
Cessna 414
Cessna 421
Diamond DA42
Aerostar models
Multi-engine aircraft may require additional pilot experience, training and insurance approval.
Selected turbine and business jet repositioning missions may also be supported depending on:
Aircraft make and model
Type rating
Crew requirements
Insurance requirements
Operator requirements
Pilot availability
Explore Aircraft We Fly
Provide:
Aircraft make and model
N-number
Current airport
Destination airport
Desired dates
Aircraft condition
Mission purpose
Any special requirements
The mission is evaluated based on:
Aircraft type
Distance
Required ratings
Required endorsements
Pilot experience
Insurance requirements
Route
Schedule
Crew requirements
Pilot qualifications may need to account for:
Total time
Category and class
Multi-engine time
Complex aircraft experience
High-performance experience
Retractable-gear experience
Turbine time
Make-and-model experience
Type ratings
Insurance requirements
The appropriate pilot depends upon the aircraft and mission.
Planning may include:
Pilot transportation
Aircraft access
Fuel planning
Weather
Airports
Overnight stops
Ground transportation
Return transportation
Destination handoff arrangements
The pilot operates the aircraft according to applicable regulations, aircraft limitations and safe operating practices.
Weather, mechanical issues and other operational factors may require schedule changes.
Safety comes before an arbitrary delivery deadline.
The aircraft is delivered to the agreed airport and location according to the established instructions.
Aircraft repositioning cost depends on the specific mission.
Factors may include:
Aircraft make and model
Distance
Aircraft cruise speed
Aircraft range
Flight time
Fuel stops
Pilot fee
Pilot positioning
Airline tickets
Hotels
Ground transportation
Return travel
Crew requirements
Insurance requirements
Aircraft-specific qualifications
Weather
Seasonal conditions
A 150-mile repositioning flight in a piston single is fundamentally different from repositioning a pressurized twin or business jet across the country.
For that reason, Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific quotes.
SEE THE AIRCRAFT FERRY COST GUIDE
Aircraft owners sometimes underestimate how much time repositioning an airplane can consume.
Consider an aircraft located 1,000 miles away.
You may need to:
Purchase an airline ticket
Fly commercially to the aircraft
Rent a vehicle
Travel to the airport
Stay overnight
Complete the cross-country flight
Make multiple fuel stops
Deal with weather
Arrange transportation after arrival
Lose one or more business days
For many owners and aviation businesses, using a professional ferry pilot is a more efficient use of time.
This is especially important for commercial aviation organizations.
If you run a:
Flight school
Flying club
Aircraft dealership
Maintenance facility
Management company
Corporate flight department
your own pilots may generate more value doing their primary jobs than spending a day or two relocating an aircraft.
Ferry Flight USA can provide an additional pilot resource for those positioning missions.
Insurance requirements should be reviewed before the aircraft is moved.
Policies may establish minimum pilot requirements involving:
Certificate level
Ratings
Total flight time
Time in category
Time in class
Multi-engine time
Retractable-gear experience
Time in type
Turbine experience
Recurrent training
Type rating
Named-pilot approval
Every aircraft and policy is different.
The pilot selected for a mission must therefore be evaluated against the requirements applicable to that aircraft.
What does aircraft repositioning mean?
Aircraft repositioning means moving an aircraft from one airport or operating location to another primarily because the aircraft itself needs to be relocated.
Is aircraft repositioning the same as a ferry flight?
The terms are often used interchangeably. A ferry flight may involve aircraft delivery, relocation, repositioning, maintenance movement or another mission where the aircraft needs to be flown from one location to another.
Can you reposition my airplane to another airport?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying aircraft repositioning missions throughout the United States.
Can you move my airplane to a maintenance shop?
Yes. Aircraft repositioning is commonly used for annual inspections, engine work, avionics installations, paint and other maintenance.
Can you reposition an aircraft for a flight school?
Yes. Flight schools may use repositioning services to move training aircraft between bases, maintenance facilities or new operating locations.
Can you reposition multiple aircraft?
Potentially, yes. Multi-aircraft fleet moves can be evaluated based on aircraft types, locations, pilot availability and schedule.
Can you reposition a corporate aircraft?
Selected corporate and business aircraft repositioning missions can be coordinated based on aircraft type, required crew, pilot qualifications, type ratings and insurance requirements.
How far can you reposition an aircraft?
Aircraft can be repositioned regionally or across the United States. Long-distance missions may require multiple fuel stops and overnight stays depending on aircraft performance and weather.
How quickly can aircraft repositioning be scheduled?
Scheduling depends on pilot availability, aircraft type, route, weather and aircraft readiness. Some regional missions may be arranged relatively quickly, while complex or long-distance flights may require additional planning.
Does the owner need to be present?
Not necessarily. Many repositioning flights are completed without the owner onboard. Aircraft access and destination handoff can be coordinated with the appropriate parties.
Who pays for fuel?
Aircraft operating costs and pilot expenses should be defined in the mission agreement before the flight. Fuel, oil, airport fees and other operating costs may be handled according to the agreed terms.
What information do you need for a quote?
Provide the aircraft make and model, registration number, departure airport, destination airport, preferred timing and any important information about the aircraft’s maintenance, condition or insurance requirements.
Whether you need to move one airplane across Florida or reposition an entire fleet across multiple states, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the mission.
What aircraft needs to move?
Where is it now?
Where does it need to go?
When do you need it there?
From there, we can evaluate pilot requirements, routing, scheduling and expected costs.
