Ferry Flight USA provides professional aircraft recovery and AOG repositioning services throughout the United States, helping aircraft owners, operators, flight schools, flying clubs, brokers, dealers and management companies get aircraft back home or to the appropriate maintenance facility after an unexpected disruption.
An aircraft can become stranded for many reasons:
Mechanical problems
Maintenance discrepancies
Weather diversions
Pilot availability
Aircraft left at another airport
Unplanned repairs
AOG maintenance events
Failed inspections
Electrical or avionics problems
Tire or brake issues
Engine concerns
Operational interruptions
Once the aircraft has been properly repaired, returned to service, or otherwise legally authorized for the proposed flight, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the recovery flight.
REQUEST AN AIRCRAFT RECOVERY QUOTE
AOG stands for Aircraft on Ground.
In aviation, the term is commonly used when an aircraft is unable to continue normal operation because of a mechanical, maintenance or operational issue.
An AOG situation may involve:
A mechanical failure
An unscheduled maintenance event
A required part
A grounded aircraft away from base
A technical discrepancy that prevents normal flight
An inspection or repair requirement
In large commercial aviation, AOG support often includes engineering, technicians, repairs, parts logistics and return-to-service coordination. Major AOG providers specifically focus on getting grounded aircraft repaired and safely back into operation. (services.boeing.com)
Ferry Flight USA’s role is different.
We specialize in the aircraft movement after the maintenance or regulatory issue has been addressed.
These are related—but not identical—services.
AOG maintenance may involve:
Troubleshooting
Mechanic dispatch
Parts replacement
Engine or electrical repair
Structural repair
Tire replacement
Brake repair
Battery or starter work
Avionics troubleshooting
Logbook entries
Return-to-service documentation
Aircraft recovery may involve:
Providing a qualified ferry pilot
Traveling to the stranded aircraft
Coordinating aircraft access
Planning the recovery route
Repositioning the aircraft after repairs
Returning the aircraft to home base
Moving the aircraft to another maintenance facility
Completing a ferry flight under an approved Special Flight Permit when applicable
Ferry Flight USA focuses primarily on the flight and repositioning component.
Few aircraft owners plan on leaving their airplane hundreds of miles from home.
But it happens.
You may land at another airport because of:
Engine roughness
Charging-system failure
Alternator issues
Brake problems
Flat tire
Starter problems
Oil leaks
Avionics failures
Weather
Fuel-system concerns
Warning indications
Inspection findings
You may then need to leave the aircraft behind while maintenance is performed.
Once the airplane is properly ready for flight, Ferry Flight USA can send a qualified pilot to recover it.
A common recovery mission looks like this:
Aircraft develops a problem away from home
↓
Local A&P or maintenance provider repairs the aircraft
↓
Aircraft is properly returned to service
↓
Ferry Flight USA sends a qualified pilot
↓
Aircraft is returned to its home airport
This can save the owner from making a second airline trip, rental-car trip, hotel stay and cross-country flight simply to retrieve the aircraft.
Many recovery missions involve simply bringing the aircraft home.
After repairs are complete, we can coordinate:
AOG Airport → Home Airport
or
Maintenance Facility → Home Base
This service can be particularly useful when:
The owner has already returned home
The original pilot is unavailable
The aircraft has been sitting for several days
A business trip continued without the airplane
A flight school needs the aircraft back in service
A corporate or managed aircraft needs to return to its base
Sometimes the first airport where an aircraft lands is not the best place to complete a major repair.
A local mechanic may be able to:
Diagnose the problem
Make temporary repairs
Determine the aircraft is safe for a limited flight
Assist with ferry permit requirements
but the owner may want the aircraft moved to:
Their regular mechanic
An engine shop
A manufacturer service center
A specialty maintenance facility
An avionics shop
A structural repair facility
When legally appropriate, Ferry Flight USA can help reposition the aircraft to that facility.
EXPLORE MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHTS
Some AOG situations cannot be completely repaired at the location where the aircraft is stranded.
In certain circumstances, an aircraft may qualify for an FAA Special Flight Permit, commonly called a ferry permit, allowing it to be flown to a location where repairs can be completed.
This is not automatic.
The aircraft must qualify for the permit and be capable of safe operation under the limitations established for the flight.
Some AOG providers specifically coordinate ferry permit preparation when an aircraft must be moved for repair. (havenaog.com)
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate qualifying ferry missions after the required regulatory and maintenance steps have been completed.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FERRY PERMIT FLIGHTS
Engine-related issues are among the most serious reasons an aircraft may be left away from home.
Examples may include:
Rough-running engine
Oil leak
Abnormal oil pressure
High cylinder temperatures
Low compression
Magneto issues
Fuel-delivery problems
Ignition problems
Metal in the oil
Exhaust-system issues
Cylinder problems
These issues must be properly evaluated before any recovery flight is attempted.
A ferry pilot does not replace an A&P mechanic or engine specialist.
Once the aircraft is appropriately repaired or legally authorized for the proposed flight, Ferry Flight USA can help move it.
Electrical and charging-system issues frequently strand general aviation aircraft.
Examples include:
Alternator failure
Generator failure
Dead battery
Starter problems
Master-solenoid issues
Electrical short
Charging-system fault
Circuit-breaker issues
If the problem has been properly corrected and the aircraft is ready for operation, we can coordinate the recovery flight.
Avionics issues can also affect whether an aircraft can safely or legally continue its planned trip.
Problems may involve:
Radios
GPS
Transponder
ADS-B
Autopilot
Primary flight displays
Electrical systems
Navigation equipment
The impact depends on:
Aircraft equipment
Route
Airspace
Day or night operation
VFR or IFR
Applicable regulations
After the equipment status and operating requirements are properly addressed, Ferry Flight USA can help reposition the aircraft.
EXPLORE AVIONICS SHOP FERRY FLIGHTS
A flat tire or brake problem may leave an otherwise healthy aircraft stuck on the ramp.
Common issues can include:
Flat tire
Damaged tube
Brake leak
Worn brake lining
Hydraulic issue
Stuck brake
Wheel damage
These problems normally need to be corrected before flight.
Once repaired and properly returned to service, Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the aircraft’s return.
Not every stranded aircraft is mechanically broken.
Weather can force an aircraft to stop far from its intended destination.
The original pilot may then need to:
Return home commercially
Continue a business trip
Reach another destination
Leave the aircraft until weather improves
Once conditions permit, Ferry Flight USA can potentially provide a pilot to reposition the aircraft.
Examples include:
Thunderstorms
Icing conditions
Strong winds
Low ceilings
Fog
Mountain weather
Tropical systems
Hurricanes
Sometimes the airplane is perfectly healthy.
The problem is the pilot.
A pilot may become:
Ill
Unavailable
Out of duty time
Unable to continue because of schedule changes
Unable to meet insurance requirements
Unable to return for the aircraft
Ferry Flight USA can help evaluate whether another qualified pilot can complete the aircraft movement.
Aircraft also get left behind for less dramatic reasons.
For example:
The owner traveled commercially home
A passenger emergency changed the trip
The pilot had to leave unexpectedly
The aircraft remained after maintenance
The original ferry pilot could not complete the mission
Weather trapped the aircraft
If the airplane is airworthy, legal to operate and properly insured for the selected pilot, we can help coordinate the return.
Private owners may find themselves stranded at unfamiliar airports far from:
Their regular mechanic
Their home hangar
Their tools
Their normal support network
Once the maintenance problem is resolved, professional aircraft recovery means the owner does not necessarily have to return personally just to retrieve the airplane.
An aircraft stranded away from base can create immediate problems for a flight school.
Every day the aircraft remains away can mean:
Lost training availability
Cancelled lessons
Instructor scheduling problems
Reduced fleet capacity
Lost revenue
Once the aircraft is ready for flight, Ferry Flight USA can help return it to the school.
EXPLORE FLIGHT SCHOOL FLEET REPOSITIONING
A flying-club aircraft stranded away from its base may affect dozens of members.
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate recovery after maintenance so that a club officer, CFI or member does not have to sacrifice an entire day to retrieve the airplane.
Dealers and brokers may encounter AOG situations involving:
Inventory aircraft
Pre-buy inspection flights
Demonstration flights
Buyer deliveries
Seller repositioning
Aircraft acquisitions
An unexpected mechanical issue can interrupt the entire transaction.
After appropriate maintenance, Ferry Flight USA can help get the aircraft moving again.
Aircraft management companies often oversee airplanes operating far from their primary maintenance bases.
If an aircraft becomes grounded, the management company may need help:
Returning it to home base
Moving it to another maintenance facility
Repositioning it after repairs
Providing a replacement pilot
Ferry Flight USA can serve as an additional aircraft movement resource.
Provide:
Aircraft make
Aircraft model
N-number
Current airport
Home airport or intended destination
What happened
Current maintenance status
Shop or mechanic contact
Desired timing
Insurance requirements if known
The most important question is:
Is the aircraft currently legal and appropriate for flight?
The answer may be:
Yes, the repair is complete
Repair is in progress
Waiting on a mechanic
Waiting on a part
Waiting on return-to-service documentation
Ferry permit may be required
Aircraft cannot currently fly
Ferry Flight USA should not dispatch a recovery pilot until the aircraft’s flight status is understood.
Pilot selection may depend on:
Aircraft category and class
Complex requirements
High-performance requirements
Tailwheel endorsement
Multi-engine rating
Pressurization
Turbine requirements
Type rating
Make-and-model experience
Insurance requirements
Where appropriate, recovery planning may involve communication with:
A&P mechanic
IA
Repair station
FBO
Maintenance shop
Aircraft manager
Owner
The objective is to understand whether the aircraft has been properly released and what information the pilot needs before arrival.
A recovery flight may require conservative planning, particularly if the aircraft recently experienced a maintenance problem.
Planning can consider:
Weather
Distance
Fuel
Alternate airports
Maintenance availability along the route
Terrain
Airspace
Aircraft performance
Daylight
Overnight stops
The pilot may reach the aircraft by:
Airline
Rental car
Rideshare
Another aircraft
Ground transportation
Travel logistics depend on airport location and mission urgency.
Before departure, the pilot performs the appropriate preflight inspection and reviews the aircraft’s status.
Particular attention may be given to the area associated with the recent maintenance event.
The ferry pilot does not perform or certify maintenance unless separately authorized and appropriately certificated to do so.
The pilot repositions the aircraft to the agreed destination.
Depending on the situation, that may be:
Home airport
Another maintenance facility
Aircraft owner’s new location
Flight-school base
Dealer location
Aircraft recovery pricing depends heavily on the situation.
Variables can include:
Aircraft type
Aircraft location
Destination
Pilot fee
Urgency
Pilot positioning
Airline airfare
Rental car
Ground transportation
Hotel
Flight distance
Aircraft range
Crew requirements
Insurance requirements
Ferry permit considerations
Weather
A simple same-day recovery after a tire replacement 100 miles from home is very different from retrieving a complex twin 1,500 miles away after major maintenance.
Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific recovery quotes.
REQUEST AN AIRCRAFT RECOVERY QUOTE
Aircraft recovery may involve:
Pilot fee
Airline airfare
Hotel
Rental car
Rideshare
Return transportation
Fuel
Oil
Ramp fees
Landing fees
Parking
The mission agreement should establish how applicable expenses are handled.
Ferry Flight USA is primarily an aircraft ferry and repositioning company.
An aircraft that is mechanically grounded normally needs an appropriately certificated mechanic or maintenance facility to address the underlying issue before flight.
Dedicated AOG providers typically handle mobile maintenance response, parts, troubleshooting, repairs and return-to-service work. (alphacompanyaviation.com)
Ferry Flight USA can then handle the flight portion of the recovery once the aircraft is appropriately ready to move.
Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to help coordinate with known maintenance resources or work with the owner’s selected provider.
However, the repair itself remains the responsibility of appropriately certificated maintenance personnel.
Some situations may permit limited operation under an FAA Special Flight Permit.
For example, an aircraft might need to move from a small airport to a facility capable of performing a more significant repair.
A Special Flight Permit does not make an unsafe airplane safe.
It authorizes a specific flight under defined conditions when regulatory requirements are satisfied.
If your aircraft may require a ferry permit, tell us immediately when requesting recovery.
Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying recovery flights throughout the United States.
We can assist with aircraft stranded:
In Florida
In Georgia
In Texas
In California
In Arizona
In the Northeast
In the Midwest
In the Southeast
In the Mountain West
On the West Coast
And nationwide
An AOG event rarely happens at a convenient airport.
That is exactly why having access to a nationwide pilot network matters.
Qualifying recovery missions may involve aircraft such as:
Cessna 150 / 152
Cessna 172
Cessna 182
Cessna 206
Piper Cherokee
Piper Warrior
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Piper Saratoga
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR22
Beechcraft Bonanza
Mooney
Diamond DA40
Qualifying piston twin recovery missions may involve:
Piper Seminole
Piper Seneca
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Beechcraft Baron
Cessna 310
Cessna 340
Cessna 414
Cessna 421
Diamond DA42
Aerostar models
Complex twins may require more specialized pilot experience and insurance approval.
Selected turbine and business aircraft repositioning missions may also be supported after the aircraft has been appropriately returned to service.
These missions may involve:
Type-rated pilots
Two-pilot crews
Operator requirements
Recurrent training
Insurance approval
Mission feasibility depends on aircraft type and crew availability.
A stranded aircraft may be nowhere near the owner’s home base.
We can evaluate pilot availability across the country.
Pilot selection is based on ratings, experience, aircraft requirements and insurance.
Our role is getting the aircraft from where it is stranded to where it needs to go.
We can coordinate the flight portion with the appropriate maintenance or aircraft-management contacts.
Qualifying missions can be evaluated where a Special Flight Permit has been appropriately obtained.
Urgency does not override safe operation.
What does AOG mean?
AOG means Aircraft on Ground and generally refers to an aircraft that cannot continue normal operation until a maintenance or operational issue is resolved.
Can you recover an aircraft stranded at another airport?
Yes. Once the aircraft is legally and operationally ready for flight, Ferry Flight USA can coordinate a qualified pilot to reposition it.
Do you repair AOG aircraft?
Ferry Flight USA primarily provides pilot and ferry-flight services. Mechanical repairs should be performed by appropriately certificated maintenance personnel.
Can you bring my aircraft home after repairs?
Yes. Return-to-base recovery is one of the primary uses of this service.
Can you move the aircraft to another maintenance shop?
Yes, if the aircraft is legal and appropriate for the proposed flight.
What if the aircraft still has a mechanical discrepancy?
The discrepancy must be properly evaluated. Normal flight may not be permissible. In some circumstances a Special Flight Permit may be appropriate.
Can you recover an aircraft after a weather diversion?
Yes. If the aircraft itself is operational and conditions allow, a replacement ferry pilot may be able to reposition it.
Can you recover an aircraft if the original pilot is unavailable?
Potentially, yes, assuming another qualified pilot satisfies aircraft and insurance requirements.
Can you recover flight-school aircraft?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA can help return qualifying training aircraft to their operating base after repairs.
Can you recover a piston twin?
Yes, when a properly rated and qualified pilot meeting insurance requirements is available.
Does my insurance need to approve the recovery pilot?
Insurance requirements vary. The selected pilot may need to satisfy specific experience requirements or be approved by the insurer.
How much does an AOG recovery flight cost?
Cost depends on aircraft type, location, destination, urgency, travel expenses, pilot requirements and mission duration.
What information should I provide first?
Send the aircraft make and model, N-number, current airport, home or destination airport, description of what happened, current repair status and mechanic or shop contact if available.
An AOG event is already inconvenient.
Recovering the aircraft does not have to become another major logistics problem.
Once your aircraft has been repaired, returned to service or properly authorized for the intended flight, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate getting it where it belongs.
What aircraft is it?
Where is it stranded?
What happened?
Has it been repaired or returned to service?
Where does it need to go?
We’ll use that information to evaluate pilot availability, aircraft requirements, route and recovery cost.
