The aircraft is sold.
The closing is complete.
Now it needs to get from the seller to the buyer.
Ferry Flight USA provides professional aircraft sale and buyer delivery services throughout the United States, helping private sellers, aircraft buyers, brokers and dealers coordinate the final physical movement of an aircraft after a transaction.
Whether the aircraft needs to travel 150 miles or across the country, we can help coordinate the pilot, pickup, route planning and final delivery to the buyer’s requested airport.
Our nationwide 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, required qualifications, insurance requirements and mission details.
REQUEST AN AIRCRAFT SALE DELIVERY QUOTE
An aircraft transaction is not truly complete from an operational standpoint until the airplane reaches its new owner.
Closing may happen electronically.
Funds may transfer through escrow.
Documents may be signed remotely.
But the aircraft still has to physically move.
That is where Ferry Flight USA comes in.
We can coordinate the aircraft’s movement from:
The seller’s home airport
An aircraft brokerage
A dealership
A pre-buy inspection facility
A maintenance shop
An FBO
A storage facility
Another agreed delivery location
to:
The buyer’s home airport
The buyer’s hangar
A maintenance facility
A flight school
A flying club
An aircraft management company
Another destination designated by the buyer
Aircraft sales frequently involve parties located in different states.
A seller in Florida may sell an aircraft to a buyer in Texas.
A California aircraft may be purchased by someone in North Carolina.
A buyer in Florida may purchase an airplane from an owner in the Midwest.
Professional seller-to-buyer aircraft delivery allows the transaction to move forward without requiring either party to personally complete the cross-country flight.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the handoff and aircraft movement between the parties.
Timing matters in aircraft transactions.
Before the aircraft moves, the parties should have a clear understanding of:
When closing occurs
When ownership transfers
When insurance becomes effective
Who is authorized to release the aircraft
Who is paying operating expenses
Where the aircraft will be delivered
Who will accept the aircraft at the destination
When the ferry pilot may take possession of the aircraft for the flight
The actual flight should occur only after the aircraft transaction and operational requirements are properly in place.
Planning the ferry mission before closing, however, can make the post-closing delivery much smoother.
Selling an aircraft privately can involve buyers located anywhere in the country.
The buyer may ask:
“Can you deliver the airplane?”
Instead of personally flying the aircraft to the buyer, the seller can arrange professional aircraft delivery.
This may be particularly useful when:
The buyer is several states away
The seller does not have time for the trip
The aircraft has already been removed from the seller’s insurance after closing
The seller wants a defined handoff at closing
The buyer does not yet meet insurance requirements
The aircraft is already at a pre-buy or maintenance facility
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the physical delivery portion of the sale.
Buyers can also arrange their own delivery.
This is common when the buyer:
Purchased an aircraft out of state
Does not meet insurance requirements yet
Is unfamiliar with the aircraft
Does not have time to travel for pickup
Wants the aircraft delivered directly to the home airport
Wants a qualified pilot handling the first long cross-country flight
In these situations, the buyer may hire Ferry Flight USA directly after closing.
Learn More About Newly Purchased Aircraft Delivery
Aircraft brokers frequently coordinate transactions between buyers and sellers located in different parts of the country.
Delivery can become one of the final logistical pieces of the transaction.
Ferry Flight USA can support aircraft brokers with:
Post-sale aircraft delivery
Buyer delivery
Seller pickup coordination
Pre-buy repositioning
Maintenance repositioning
Dealer inventory movement
Aircraft delivery after closing
Cross-country aircraft delivery
A broker who can help solve the delivery problem provides additional value to both sides of the transaction.
Explore Dealer & Broker Ferry Services
Aircraft dealerships regularly need airplanes moved.
Common missions can include:
Deliver an aircraft from dealership inventory to the new buyer.
Move an aircraft accepted as a trade to another dealership or operating location.
Move unsold aircraft between dealership locations.
Return aircraft after maintenance, inspection, paint or avionics work.
Move newly acquired inventory to the dealer’s home location.
Ferry Flight USA can provide an additional resource for dealers who need aircraft moved without tying up internal pilots or sales personnel.
Either party can arrange aircraft delivery.
The answer is typically determined by the purchase agreement.
A transaction might specify:
Seller delivers the aircraft
Buyer accepts the aircraft at the seller’s airport
Buyer arranges a ferry pilot
Seller arranges the ferry pilot
Delivery occurs at a mutually agreed airport
Aircraft remains at the pre-buy facility after closing and leaves from there
There is no single delivery arrangement that applies to every aircraft transaction.
What matters is that the purchase agreement and parties clearly establish the delivery terms.
One of the most important details in an aircraft sale is:
That location may be:
Seller’s airport
Buyer’s airport
Pre-buy inspection facility
Escrow closing location
Another agreed airport
The parties should understand the distinction between:
legal delivery of the aircraft under the purchase agreement
and
physical repositioning of the aircraft after closing.
Ferry Flight USA handles the flight operation and physical movement of the aircraft.
The legal terms of the purchase agreement should be handled by the transaction parties and their professional advisors.
The best time to begin planning delivery is often before closing.
You do not necessarily need to wait until the transaction is complete to request a quote.
Early coordination allows time to evaluate:
Pilot availability
Aircraft type
Insurance requirements
Closing date
Route
Travel logistics
Pickup access
Weather
Destination arrangements
Then, once the aircraft closes and is properly ready for departure, the ferry mission can proceed according to the agreed schedule.
Insurance deserves special attention during seller-to-buyer delivery.
Once ownership transfers, the buyer’s insurance usually becomes particularly important.
The ferry pilot may need to satisfy requirements involving:
Pilot certificate
Instrument rating
Total flight time
Category and class experience
Make-and-model experience
Retractable-gear time
High-performance experience
Multi-engine experience
Turbine experience
Type rating
Recurrent training
Named-pilot approval
The buyer should confirm applicable requirements with the insurance provider or broker before the flight.
Learn More About Aircraft Insurance Requirements
Many aircraft transactions close while the airplane is still at the pre-purchase inspection facility.
This can actually make delivery more efficient.
Instead of flying the aircraft back to the seller’s home airport after the inspection, the ferry pilot may be able to pick it up directly from the pre-buy shop after:
The inspection is complete
Required maintenance is finished
The transaction closes
Insurance is effective
The aircraft is ready for flight
This can eliminate an unnecessary repositioning leg.
Explore Pre-Buy Inspection Repositioning
Aircraft transactions do not always proceed exactly as planned.
A pre-buy inspection may identify:
Maintenance discrepancies
Airworthiness concerns
Deferred maintenance
Engine issues
Avionics problems
Tire or brake issues
Corrosion
Required inspections
Logbook discrepancies
The buyer and seller may then negotiate repairs before closing.
If the aircraft is undergoing maintenance, Ferry Flight USA can coordinate delivery after the work is properly completed and the aircraft is appropriate for the intended flight.
Sometimes delivery to the buyer is not the next step.
The aircraft may need to move first to:
An annual inspection
An engine shop
An avionics shop
A paint facility
An interior shop
A manufacturer service center
Another maintenance provider
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate that repositioning as part of the overall aircraft movement plan.
Explore Maintenance Ferry Flights
For the buyer, a post-sale delivery is also the beginning of aircraft ownership.
The buyer may be purchasing:
A first airplane
A complex aircraft
A high-performance aircraft
A retractable-gear airplane
A multi-engine aircraft
A pressurized aircraft
A business aircraft
Ferry Flight USA can help bridge the gap between closing and arrival at the buyer’s home airport.
Explore Newly Purchased Aircraft Delivery
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate qualifying seller-to-buyer delivery missions involving piston aircraft from manufacturers such as:
Cessna
Piper
Cirrus
Beechcraft
Mooney
Diamond
Grumman
Tecnam
Maule
American Champion
Common models may include:
Cessna 150 / 152
Cessna 172
Cessna 182
Cessna 206
Piper Cherokee
Piper Warrior
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Piper Dakota
Piper Saratoga
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR22
Beechcraft Bonanza
Mooney models
Diamond DA40
Explore Piston Single Ferry Services
Qualifying multi-engine delivery missions may involve aircraft such as:
Piper Seminole
Piper Seneca
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Beechcraft Baron
Beechcraft Travel Air
Cessna 310
Cessna 340
Cessna 414
Cessna 421
Diamond DA42
Aerostar models
Pilot qualifications and insurance requirements may be more demanding for complex and high-performance twins.
Explore Piston Twin Ferry Services
Selected light and midsize business-aircraft delivery missions may also be supported.
These missions can involve additional requirements such as:
Type ratings
Two-pilot crews
Turbine experience
Recurrent training
Operator requirements
Insurance approval
Availability depends upon aircraft type, crew requirements and mission details.
Provide:
Aircraft make and model
N-number
Current airport
Destination airport
Expected closing date
Requested delivery date
Buyer or seller contact as appropriate
Broker information if applicable
Aircraft status
Insurance requirements if known
We evaluate:
Aircraft type
Pilot qualification requirements
Insurance requirements
Route
Distance
Schedule
Crew requirements
Travel logistics
Aircraft sale delivery may require communication with:
Buyer
Seller
Broker
Dealer
Maintenance facility
FBO
Aircraft manager
Escrow or transaction representatives where appropriate
The goal is to make the physical pickup and delivery clear and organized.
Before departure, appropriate parties should have addressed:
Closing
Ownership transfer
Insurance
Aircraft access
Airworthiness
Maintenance status
Required documents
Fuel status
Destination instructions
Planning may account for:
Weather
Fuel
Aircraft range
Terrain
Airspace
Airport suitability
Overnight stops
Seasonal conditions
Aircraft performance
The pilot travels to the aircraft and coordinates access with the seller, broker, dealer or appropriate representative.
The aircraft is flown according to applicable regulations, aircraft limitations and safe operating practices.
A long-distance sale delivery may involve:
Multiple fuel stops
Overnight stays
Multiple flight days
Weather or mechanical concerns can affect the schedule.
At the final destination, the aircraft is delivered according to the agreed handoff instructions.
Aircraft delivery costs depend on the mission.
Factors may include:
Aircraft type
Distance
Aircraft speed
Aircraft range
Pilot fee
Number of flight days
Airline positioning
Rental cars
Ground transportation
Hotels
Crew requirements
Insurance requirements
Type ratings
Weather
Fuel stops
A 300-mile piston-single delivery will have a very different cost structure from a 2,000-mile pressurized twin or business aircraft delivery.
Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific quotes.
VIEW THE AIRCRAFT FERRY COST GUIDE
That is normally determined by the purchase agreement or negotiation between the buyer and seller.
Possible arrangements include:
Buyer pays all delivery costs
Seller pays all delivery costs
Seller includes delivery in the negotiated sale price
Buyer and seller split costs
Broker or dealer includes delivery as part of the transaction
The parties should establish responsibility before the aircraft begins moving.
Again, this depends on the transaction terms.
Delivery expenses can include:
Fuel
Oil
Ramp fees
Landing fees
Parking
Pilot fee
Airline tickets
Rental car
Ground transportation
Hotels
Return travel
All parties should understand how expenses will be handled before departure.
Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying aircraft delivery missions throughout the United States.
Common transaction routes can include:
California to Florida
Florida to Texas
Texas to Florida
Arizona to Florida
Florida to New York
Northeast to Florida
California to Texas
Midwest to Florida
Southeast to the West Coast
Mountain West to the East Coast
The aircraft market is national.
Your delivery solution should be too.
We coordinate aircraft sale deliveries across the United States.
Aircraft delivery often involves multiple people. We help organize the physical aircraft movement between them.
Pilot selection depends on the aircraft, qualifications and insurance requirements.
The flight can be coordinated around closing, insurance and aircraft readiness.
We can serve as an additional aircraft movement resource for aviation sales professionals.
Long-distance delivery requires more than pointing the airplane toward the destination.
Safe operational decisions take priority over arbitrary delivery timelines.
Can you deliver an aircraft after it is sold?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying aircraft delivery flights from sellers to buyers throughout the United States.
Who normally pays to deliver an aircraft after a sale?
It depends on the purchase agreement. The buyer, seller or both parties may agree to pay delivery expenses.
Can the aircraft be picked up immediately after closing?
Potentially, if the transaction is complete, insurance is in effect, the aircraft is ready for operation and all required logistics are in place.
Can you coordinate with my aircraft broker?
Yes. Broker coordination is common in aircraft sale delivery missions.
Can you pick up an aircraft from a pre-buy shop?
Yes, provided the transaction is complete and the aircraft is properly ready for delivery.
Can the seller hire the ferry pilot?
Yes.
Can the buyer hire the ferry pilot?
Yes.
Can a dealer arrange delivery for its customer?
Yes. Dealer-sold aircraft delivery is a common use for ferry services.
Can you deliver the aircraft directly to the buyer’s home airport?
Yes, assuming the destination is suitable for the aircraft and mission.
Does the ferry pilot need buyer insurance approval?
Applicable insurance requirements should be confirmed before the mission. The pilot may need to satisfy specific experience requirements or receive approval.
Can you deliver aircraft coast to coast?
Yes. Qualifying cross-country aircraft deliveries can be coordinated throughout the United States.
Can you deliver a piston twin after a sale?
Yes, when an appropriately rated and experienced pilot meeting applicable insurance requirements is available.
Can you deliver a business jet after a sale?
Selected business aircraft deliveries may be supported depending on aircraft type, crew requirements, type ratings, insurance and pilot availability.
What information do you need for a quote?
Provide the aircraft make and model, N-number, current airport, buyer’s destination airport, expected closing date, desired delivery timing and any known insurance or aircraft-specific requirements.
Aircraft transactions may happen electronically, but airplanes still have to physically change locations.
Whether you are:
The seller
The buyer
The broker
The dealer
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the final aircraft movement.
What aircraft was sold?
Where is it located?
Where does the buyer want it delivered?
When is closing?
We’ll use that information to evaluate the pilot requirements, route, logistics and expected delivery cost.
