Need to get your aircraft to a maintenance facility?
Ferry Flight USA provides maintenance ferry flights throughout the United States, helping aircraft owners, operators, flight schools, flying clubs, brokers, dealers and management companies move aircraft to and from maintenance providers.
Whether your airplane needs an annual inspection, engine work, avionics upgrade, aircraft paint, structural repair, specialty maintenance or another service that is not available at your home airport, we can help coordinate the repositioning flight.
Our network supports qualifying:
Piston single-engine aircraft
Piston twins
Complex aircraft
High-performance aircraft
Selected turbine aircraft
Selected light and midsize business jets
Pilot selection depends on the aircraft, mission, ratings, experience and applicable insurance requirements.
REQUEST A MAINTENANCE FERRY QUOTE
A maintenance ferry flight is an aircraft repositioning flight performed specifically to move an airplane to or from a maintenance facility.
Owners commonly use maintenance ferry services when:
Their preferred mechanic is located at another airport
A specialty shop is several states away
An annual inspection is scheduled outside the home airport
The aircraft needs engine work
Avionics installation requires a specialized facility
The aircraft needs paint or interior work
A manufacturer service center is located elsewhere
The aircraft needs a pre-buy or post-purchase inspection
Maintenance has been completed and the airplane needs to return home
Instead of spending one or more days positioning the aircraft yourself, a professional ferry pilot can manage the relocation.
The closest maintenance facility is not always the best maintenance facility.
Aircraft owners often develop relationships with mechanics who understand their particular aircraft.
That may mean traveling hundreds of miles for:
Better aircraft-specific expertise
Better pricing
Faster scheduling
Manufacturer-authorized service
Specialty engine work
Better avionics capabilities
Paint and interior facilities
Complex structural repairs
Aircraft restoration work
Specialized inspection experience
For higher-value or unusual aircraft, the right maintenance provider can matter much more than distance.
Ferry Flight USA helps solve the transportation problem.
One of the most common maintenance repositioning missions is moving an aircraft for its annual inspection.
An owner may prefer a particular:
A&P mechanic
Inspection Authorization holder
Manufacturer specialist
Type-specific maintenance shop
Service center
rather than using the nearest available facility.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the aircraft’s transportation to the annual inspection facility and, after the aircraft is properly returned to service, reposition it back to the owner’s airport.
Explore Annual Inspection Repositioning
Engine maintenance can require highly specialized facilities.
Aircraft may need to move for:
Engine troubleshooting
Cylinder work
Oil-consumption issues
Compression problems
Metal contamination investigation
Magneto work
Fuel-system work
Engine removal
Engine installation
Major overhaul
Factory remanufactured engine installation
Post-overhaul service
A trusted engine shop may be hundreds of miles from the aircraft’s home base.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the aircraft’s repositioning before and after engine work when the aircraft is legal and appropriate for flight.
Explore Engine Shop Ferry Flights
Major avionics work frequently requires specialized installers.
Aircraft owners may travel long distances for:
Garmin avionics installation
GPS navigator upgrades
Glass-panel conversions
Autopilot installations
Engine-monitor installations
ADS-B equipment
Audio panels
Transponders
Navigation and communication systems
Electrical-system upgrades
Troubleshooting
Ferry Flight USA can help reposition the aircraft to the avionics facility and return it after the installation is complete.
Explore Avionics Shop Ferry Flights
Quality aircraft paint facilities often serve customers nationwide.
An aircraft may need to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles for:
Full exterior repaint
Strip and repaint
Touch-up work
Corrosion treatment
Graphics
Registration-number changes
Exterior restoration
Instead of coordinating airline tickets, rental cars and multiple long cross-country flights, aircraft owners can use Ferry Flight USA for transportation to and from the paint facility.
Explore Paint Shop Ferry Flights
Some aircraft require specialized experience.
That can include:
Vintage aircraft
Tailwheel aircraft
High-performance aircraft
Pressurized piston aircraft
Complex twins
Aerostar aircraft
Twin Cessnas
Beechcraft products
Cirrus aircraft
Mooney aircraft
Experimental aircraft
Turbine aircraft
When the best maintenance provider is not nearby, professional aircraft repositioning allows owners to access specialized expertise without personally making every positioning flight.
Aircraft may also need relocation for specialized airframe work.
Examples can include:
Corrosion repair
Sheet-metal work
Spar inspections
Structural repairs
Landing-gear repairs
Control-surface work
Fabric work
Restoration
Damage repair
The aircraft must be appropriately airworthy for the intended flight unless a qualifying Special Flight Permit is issued.
A mechanical issue away from home can leave an aircraft stranded at an unfamiliar airport.
Once the aircraft has been properly repaired or otherwise legally approved for the proposed flight, Ferry Flight USA can help reposition it:
Back to its home airport
To the owner’s preferred maintenance facility
To a specialist
To another operating base
This can be particularly useful when the owner has already traveled home commercially and the aircraft remains behind.
Explore Aircraft Recovery & AOG Services
This is an important distinction.
A maintenance ferry flight does not automatically mean an aircraft can be flown simply because it needs repairs.
The aircraft must either:
Meet the applicable requirements for normal operation, or
Qualify for an appropriate FAA authorization such as a Special Flight Permit.
A Special Flight Permit is commonly referred to as a ferry permit.
Under qualifying circumstances, a ferry permit may allow an aircraft that does not currently meet all normal airworthiness requirements to be flown to a location where maintenance, repair or inspection can be completed.
The specific aircraft and condition must be evaluated before flight.
Learn More About Ferry Permit Flights
Possibly, but not as a normal flight solely because the owner wants it moved.
If an aircraft’s annual inspection has expired, the aircraft generally cannot simply be operated as though it were normally airworthy.
Depending on the circumstances, it may qualify for a Special Flight Permit that allows repositioning to a location where the inspection or required maintenance can be completed.
The exact circumstances should be evaluated before scheduling the ferry.
Private owners commonly use maintenance ferry flights because the logistics of personally repositioning an aircraft can be expensive in time.
Consider an aircraft located 500 miles from the owner’s preferred shop.
Dropping it off may require:
Flying several hours
Finding transportation from the maintenance airport
Purchasing an airline ticket home
Possibly booking a hotel
When the aircraft is finished, the entire process happens again in reverse.
Using a ferry pilot allows the owner to outsource those positioning flights.
Flight schools often operate on tight scheduling.
Taking an instructor away from students simply to move an airplane can create lost training availability.
Ferry Flight USA can help reposition training aircraft for:
100-hour inspections
Annual inspections
Engine work
Avionics work
Major maintenance
Fleet transfers
Paint and refurbishment
Explore Flight School Fleet Repositioning
Flying clubs frequently rely on maintenance facilities outside their immediate airport.
A club may need aircraft moved for:
Annual inspection
Engine work
Avionics
Paint
Propeller work
Specialty repairs
Manufacturer-specific service
Using a ferry pilot can prevent club officers, instructors or members from having to devote entire days to maintenance positioning.
Aircraft management companies may oversee aircraft based at multiple airports.
That creates ongoing maintenance-positioning needs.
Ferry Flight USA can help management companies coordinate aircraft transportation:
To maintenance
From maintenance
Between service providers
For inspections
For avionics
For paint
For storage
Between operating bases
Brokers and dealers may need aircraft repositioned before or after a sale.
Examples include:
Pre-buy inspection
Annual inspection
Squawk correction
Avionics upgrade
Paint work
Engine service
Post-sale preparation
Inventory refurbishment
A professional ferry service can help keep aircraft moving without tying up internal sales or operating personnel.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate aircraft pickups from:
Home airports
Private hangars
Flight schools
Flying clubs
Dealer locations
FBOs
Aircraft storage facilities
Seller locations
Corporate facilities
and reposition the aircraft to:
A&P shops
IA inspection facilities
Manufacturer service centers
Engine shops
Avionics shops
Paint facilities
Interior shops
Restoration shops
Specialty aircraft maintenance providers
Getting the aircraft to the shop is only half of the problem.
When maintenance is complete, Ferry Flight USA can also coordinate the return flight.
This is particularly useful when:
The maintenance facility is several states away
The owner does not want to make another airline trip
A flight school cannot spare an instructor
A corporate operator needs internal pilots elsewhere
A broker or dealer wants the aircraft returned to inventory quickly
The aircraft must be appropriately released and ready for the return flight.
Provide:
Aircraft make and model
Registration number
Current airport
Maintenance facility airport
Reason for maintenance
Desired timing
Current aircraft status
Known mechanical issues
Insurance information where applicable
Before planning the mission, it is important to understand whether the aircraft is appropriate for normal flight.
Relevant information may include:
Annual inspection status
Required maintenance
Known discrepancies
Open squawks
Airworthiness status
Applicable limitations
Ferry permit requirements, if any
A ferry pilot cannot simply ignore known airworthiness issues.
Pilot requirements can depend on:
Aircraft category and class
Make and model
Retractable gear
High-performance endorsement
Tailwheel endorsement
Multi-engine rating
Pressurization
Turbine experience
Type rating
Insurance requirements
The pilot should be appropriate for the specific aircraft and mission.
Flight planning may include:
Distance
Weather
Aircraft range
Fuel stops
Terrain
Airspace
Airport suitability
Maintenance availability along the route
Overnight stops where required
Aircraft with known maintenance concerns may require especially conservative planning.
We can coordinate the expected arrival with the appropriate maintenance facility or contact.
This can help ensure:
The shop knows the aircraft is coming
Parking arrangements are available
The proper personnel are expecting the aircraft
Keys and documentation are handled appropriately
Delivery instructions are clear
The aircraft is repositioned according to applicable regulations, aircraft limitations and safe operating practices.
Weather, maintenance concerns or other operational factors may change the schedule.
Safety takes priority over an arbitrary arrival date.
After arrival, the aircraft is delivered according to the established instructions.
Once the maintenance is completed and the aircraft is properly ready for operation, Ferry Flight USA may also coordinate the return trip.
Pricing depends on the specific aircraft and mission.
Factors can include:
Aircraft make and model
Distance
Cruise speed
Fuel range
Pilot fee
Number of flight days
Airline travel
Ground transportation
Hotels
Pilot experience requirements
Insurance requirements
Crew requirements
Weather
Ferry permit considerations
Aircraft condition
A short piston-single maintenance repositioning flight will have a very different cost structure than moving a pressurized twin or business aircraft across the country.
For that reason, Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific quotes.
SEE THE AIRCRAFT FERRY COST GUIDE
Mission terms should be established before departure.
Potential aircraft operating expenses may include:
Fuel
Oil
Ramp fees
Landing fees
Parking
Pilot-related expenses may include:
Airline ticket
Rental vehicle
Rideshare or ground transportation
Hotel
Return travel
The quote or mission agreement should explain how these expenses will be handled.
Insurance requirements vary by aircraft and policy.
The policy may require minimum levels of:
Total flight time
Time in category
Time in class
Make-and-model time
Multi-engine time
Retractable-gear experience
High-performance experience
Turbine experience
Recurrent training
Type rating
The ferry pilot may also need to be specifically approved under the policy.
Insurance requirements should be addressed before departure.
Learn More About Aircraft Insurance Requirements
Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying maintenance ferry flights throughout the United States.
We can support aircraft moving:
Within Florida
Florida to Texas
Florida to Georgia
Florida to North Carolina
Florida to Tennessee
Florida to California
California to Arizona
Texas to the Southeast
Northeast to Florida
Midwest to Florida
And nationwide
The right maintenance facility may not be in the same city—or even the same state—as the aircraft.
Professional repositioning makes specialty maintenance more accessible.
Ferry Flight USA can also help connect qualifying customers with aircraft maintenance resources.
Customers may qualify for preferred maintenance pricing through Apex Aircraft Works for certain aircraft maintenance services.
For qualifying piston aircraft engine work, customers may also have access to preferred pricing through Apex Aircraft Engines.
These are separate maintenance providers and should be evaluated based on the specific aircraft and work required.
LEARN ABOUT APEX AIRCRAFT WORKS
Can you ferry my airplane to a maintenance shop?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying aircraft repositioning flights to maintenance facilities throughout the United States.
Can you bring the aircraft back after maintenance?
Yes. Once the aircraft has been appropriately returned to service and is ready for flight, a return ferry flight can also be coordinated.
Can you ferry an aircraft for an annual inspection?
Yes. Annual-inspection repositioning is a common maintenance ferry mission.
Can you ferry an aircraft to an engine shop?
Yes, provided the aircraft is appropriately airworthy or otherwise legally authorized for the proposed flight.
Can you ferry my aircraft to an avionics shop?
Yes. Avionics-shop repositioning can be arranged for qualifying aircraft.
Can you ferry an airplane to a paint shop?
Yes. Aircraft can be repositioned to and from qualifying paint facilities.
Can an airplane with an expired annual be ferried?
Potentially, but usually not as a normal operation. Depending on the circumstances, the aircraft may qualify for an FAA Special Flight Permit.
What if my aircraft has a mechanical problem?
The nature of the problem matters. The aircraft must be suitable and legal for the intended flight. Some conditions may require maintenance before departure, while others may potentially qualify for a Special Flight Permit.
Can you move an aircraft after an AOG event?
Yes, once the aircraft has been properly repaired or otherwise legally authorized for the proposed flight.
Do you ferry flight-school aircraft for maintenance?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA can help flight schools reposition training aircraft for inspections, maintenance, avionics and other services.
Does my insurance have to approve the ferry pilot?
Insurance requirements vary by policy. Some insurers require that the pilot meet specific qualifications or receive approval before operating the aircraft.
How much does a maintenance ferry flight cost?
Cost depends on aircraft type, distance, pilot requirements, travel expenses, number of flight days and other mission-specific factors.
What information do you need for a quote?
Provide the aircraft make and model, N-number, current location, destination maintenance facility, requested dates, current maintenance status and any known mechanical or regulatory issues.
You should not have to lose one or two days of your own schedule every time your aircraft needs specialized maintenance.
Whether the airplane needs:
An annual inspection
Engine work
Avionics
Paint
Structural repair
A specialty inspection
A manufacturer service center
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the aircraft’s movement.
What aircraft is it?
Where is it now?
Which maintenance facility does it need to reach?
What maintenance is being performed?
We’ll use that information to evaluate the aircraft, pilot requirements, route and expected ferry cost.
