Need to move an aircraft that cannot currently be operated as a normal airworthy flight?
Ferry Flight USA provides professional ferry permit flight support throughout the United States, helping aircraft owners, buyers, sellers, brokers, dealers, flight schools and maintenance providers reposition qualifying aircraft under an FAA Special Flight Permit.
A Special Flight Permit—commonly called a ferry permit—may allow an aircraft that does not currently meet all applicable airworthiness requirements to be flown for a specific approved purpose when the aircraft is nevertheless capable of safe flight.
Common situations can include:
An expired annual inspection
Moving an aircraft to a maintenance facility
Moving an aircraft to a location where repairs can be completed
Aircraft recovery after a maintenance event
Relocating an aircraft for storage
Certain delivery or export situations
Evacuating an aircraft from impending danger
Other qualifying circumstances permitted by the FAA
REQUEST A FERRY PERMIT FLIGHT REVIEW
A Special Flight Permit is an FAA authorization that may allow an aircraft to be flown even though it does not currently meet all applicable airworthiness requirements, provided the aircraft is capable of safe flight for the approved mission.
Under 14 CFR § 21.197, the FAA may issue a Special Flight Permit for specific purposes such as:
Flying an aircraft to a base where repairs, alterations or maintenance will be performed
Moving an aircraft to a point of storage
Delivering or exporting an aircraft
Production flight testing
Evacuating an aircraft from impending danger
Certain excess-weight operations
The permit is mission-specific.
It is not a general waiver allowing unrestricted aircraft operation.
“Ferry permit” is the common aviation term for an FAA Special Flight Permit.
The two terms are generally used interchangeably in normal aviation conversation.
Aircraft owners may search for:
Ferry permit
Aircraft ferry permit
FAA ferry permit
Special Flight Permit
Special airworthiness ferry permit
Ferry authorization
For SEO purposes, Ferry Flight USA should use both Ferry Permit and Special Flight Permit throughout this page because aircraft owners commonly search both terms.
A ferry permit may become relevant when an aircraft cannot legally be operated under normal conditions but still needs to be moved.
Common examples include:
An aircraft whose required annual inspection has expired may potentially be flown to a location where the annual inspection can be completed under an approved Special Flight Permit.
An aircraft may need to move from one airport to a facility that has the proper equipment, parts or expertise to complete repairs.
An aircraft stranded away from home may need to be moved to another maintenance facility or back to its base after a maintenance issue is evaluated.
A Special Flight Permit can potentially authorize movement to a storage location under qualifying circumstances.
Certain aircraft delivery and export situations may also qualify.
Every aircraft and circumstance is different.
The FAA determines whether the requested operation qualifies.
This is one of the most common reasons aircraft owners ask about ferry permits.
If the required annual inspection has expired, the aircraft generally cannot simply be operated normally to another airport because the owner wants a different mechanic to perform the annual.
However, the FAA specifically identifies flying an aircraft with an expired annual to a location where the inspection can be completed as a common Special Flight Permit use.
For example:
Aircraft home airport → preferred A&P/IA → annual inspection
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the flight portion after the appropriate FAA authorization and aircraft inspection requirements have been satisfied.
EXPLORE ANNUAL INSPECTION REPOSITIONING
Not simply as a normal flight.
If an aircraft is subject to the annual inspection requirement and the annual has expired, a normal repositioning flight may not be permitted.
A qualifying aircraft may instead need:
Evaluation by appropriate maintenance personnel
A Special Flight Permit application
FAA approval
Compliance with any operating limitations placed on the permit
A properly qualified and insured pilot
This is why it is generally easier to reposition an aircraft before its annual expires whenever practical.
An aircraft may need to reach a maintenance facility that is not located at the airport where the problem occurred.
Examples might include:
Engine specialist
Structural repair facility
Aircraft manufacturer service center
Type-specific maintenance shop
Avionics repair facility
Propeller shop
Specialty restoration facility
If the aircraft does not currently meet normal airworthiness requirements but can be safely operated under defined conditions, a Special Flight Permit may potentially authorize the flight.
EXPLORE MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHTS
Aircraft mechanical problems rarely happen at convenient locations.
An airplane may become stranded because of:
Mechanical discrepancies
Engine problems
Maintenance findings
Inspection issues
Equipment failures
Unexpected damage
Sometimes the local facility can make the aircraft fully airworthy.
Other times the aircraft needs to travel somewhere else for the proper repair.
When the circumstances qualify, a Special Flight Permit may provide the legal pathway for that repositioning flight.
EXPLORE AIRCRAFT RECOVERY & AOG
This is one of the most important points on this page.
A Special Flight Permit does not authorize an aircraft to fly simply because moving it would be convenient.
The aircraft must still be capable of safe flight for the proposed operation.
The FAA may require inspections or tests before issuing the permit.
The permit can also contain operating limitations designed specifically around the aircraft’s condition.
Examples might include limitations involving:
Daylight-only operation
VFR-only operation
Specific route
Restricted crew
Avoidance of passengers
Gear position
Airspeed
Weight
Weather
Airport selection
Other conditions deemed necessary
The actual limitations are determined by the FAA for the specific aircraft and mission.
Under 14 CFR § 21.199, the applicant must provide information including:
The purpose of the flight
The proposed itinerary
The required crew
The ways in which the aircraft does not comply with applicable airworthiness requirements
Any proposed restrictions needed for safe operation
Other information requested by the FAA
The FAA may also require inspections or tests before issuing the permit.
The exact process can vary depending on the aircraft and circumstances.
The FAA currently allows Special Flight Permit applications to be submitted through its Airworthiness Certification (AWC) process.
Depending on the circumstances, the owner, operator or authorized agent may submit the application.
The FAA may also require:
Maintenance evaluation
Inspection
Supporting documentation
Proposed operating limitations
Additional information concerning the aircraft condition
The approval is issued for the specific purpose and mission.
Ferry Flight USA’s role is primarily the flight operation and pilot coordination.
We do not represent that every aircraft will qualify for a Special Flight Permit.
We can help coordinate the operational side of qualifying ferry missions and work with aircraft owners, maintenance personnel and other involved parties.
That may include helping identify the information needed for the proposed flight, such as:
Aircraft type
Current location
Intended destination
Reason for the permit
Pilot requirements
Proposed route
Aircraft limitations
The aircraft owner or authorized applicant remains responsible for obtaining the FAA authorization unless a separate arrangement has been established with a properly authorized party.
Often, yes.
The FAA may require evidence that the aircraft is capable of safe flight for the proposed mission.
That may involve evaluation by an appropriately certificated mechanic.
Depending on the aircraft and discrepancy, maintenance personnel may need to:
Inspect the aircraft
Describe the condition
Perform limited repairs
Verify systems needed for the flight
Recommend operating limitations
Document the aircraft’s condition
The exact requirements depend on the situation.
Not necessarily.
This is a major limitation owners need to understand.
If an Airworthiness Directive requires compliance before further flight and the AD does not provide for operation under a Special Flight Permit, the FAA may not issue a permit for the aircraft to continue flying.
That means some aircraft must be repaired where they are.
A ferry permit cannot override an Airworthiness Directive that prohibits further flight.
Possibly, depending on the specific problem.
An engine discrepancy might range from:
A minor issue that does not prevent safe flight
A condition requiring defined operating restrictions
A condition that requires repair before any flight
The aircraft must be capable of safe operation for the proposed ferry mission.
A ferry permit does not authorize a pilot to knowingly operate an aircraft that cannot safely complete the flight.
Possibly—but a ferry permit may not even be necessary in every avionics situation.
The answer depends on:
Which equipment is inoperative
Aircraft certification requirements
Day or night
VFR or IFR
Airspace
Transponder requirements
ADS-B requirements
Required instruments
Other regulations
Some avionics discrepancies may be handled through normal regulatory provisions.
Others may require maintenance.
Still others may contribute to a Special Flight Permit request.
Each situation should be evaluated individually.
A flat tire, failed brake or similar landing-gear issue normally needs to be corrected before flight.
A ferry permit does not eliminate the requirement for an aircraft to be capable of safe takeoff, flight and landing.
However, more complicated landing-gear discrepancies may create situations where the FAA authorizes a flight under specific limitations after the aircraft has been appropriately evaluated.
Again, the aircraft’s condition determines what is possible.
Yes, 14 CFR § 21.197 specifically includes moving an aircraft to a point of storage as one of the purposes for which a Special Flight Permit may be issued.
This can become relevant when an aircraft:
Is being removed from service
Needs long-term storage
Is changing ownership
Cannot remain at its current airport
Must be moved before major restoration
Certain aircraft delivery situations may also qualify.
The FAA specifically includes delivery or export among the purposes listed under the Special Flight Permit regulation.
However, a normal airworthy aircraft being delivered to a buyer generally does not need a Special Flight Permit merely because it is being sold.
EXPLORE AIRCRAFT SALE & BUYER DELIVERY
Aircraft buyers sometimes purchase airplanes that:
Are out of annual
Require maintenance
Need major restoration
Have been stored
Need to reach another maintenance facility
In those situations, the newly purchased aircraft may need a Special Flight Permit before it can be flown to the buyer’s preferred maintenance location.
A possible transaction sequence might be:
Seller → Closing → Special Flight Permit → Maintenance Facility → Repairs/Annual → Buyer’s Home Airport
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate qualifying flight legs.
EXPLORE NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT DELIVERY
Older or restoration aircraft are another common scenario.
A buyer may purchase:
Long-stored aircraft
Vintage aircraft
Project aircraft
Aircraft with expired inspections
Aircraft requiring restoration
The safest and most economical solution may sometimes be disassembly and ground transportation.
In other cases, after proper evaluation and FAA authorization, a limited ferry flight may be possible.
The condition of the individual aircraft determines the appropriate solution.
A Special Flight Permit may contain operating limitations specific to the aircraft and mission.
Potential limitations can involve:
Route
Daylight
Weather
VFR-only operation
Crew
Passengers
Weight
Speed
Altitude
Airports
Landing gear
Aircraft equipment
Inspection requirements
The pilot must comply with the permit’s limitations.
Ferry Flight USA should receive and review the actual Special Flight Permit before the mission is flown.
Do not assume so.
A Special Flight Permit may restrict who can be onboard.
For many ferry-permit missions, the crew should be limited to the personnel necessary to safely conduct the flight.
Any passenger or additional occupant must be permitted by the specific authorization and applicable regulations.
Even after the FAA issues a Special Flight Permit, the aircraft still needs the right pilot.
Pilot selection may depend on:
Aircraft category
Aircraft class
Complex endorsement
High-performance endorsement
Tailwheel endorsement
Multi-engine rating
Pressurization experience
Turbine experience
Type rating
Aircraft make-and-model experience
Insurance requirements
Permit limitations
Some ferry-permit missions may warrant pilots with significant experience in the specific aircraft.
FAA authorization and insurance are separate issues.
A Special Flight Permit may make the proposed flight legally permissible from the FAA’s standpoint, but the aircraft owner’s insurance company may still impose requirements.
The insurer may require:
Specific pilot qualifications
Named-pilot approval
Make-and-model experience
Additional training
Maintenance documentation
A copy of the Special Flight Permit
Confirmation of the aircraft condition
Insurance approval should be addressed before departure.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AIRCRAFT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Provide:
Aircraft make
Aircraft model
N-number
Current airport
Intended destination
Reason the aircraft cannot make a normal flight
Annual inspection status
Known mechanical discrepancies
Maintenance contact
Insurance information
Desired timing
Before a pilot is dispatched, the aircraft’s condition must be understood.
Important questions include:
Why is the aircraft not currently airworthy?
What maintenance has been performed?
What still needs repair?
Is the aircraft capable of safe flight?
Has a mechanic inspected it?
Is an AD involved?
Has the FAA issued the permit?
The aircraft owner, operator or authorized applicant submits the required information to the FAA.
The FAA determines:
Whether the aircraft qualifies
Whether additional inspection is required
What operating limitations apply
Before flight, the pilot needs to review the actual authorization.
The mission is then planned around its limitations.
The selected pilot must satisfy:
FAA certificate and rating requirements
Aircraft requirements
Permit limitations
Insurance requirements
A ferry-permit flight may require more conservative route planning than a routine repositioning flight.
Considerations can include:
Shorter legs
Suitable airports
Maintenance availability
Weather
Terrain
Fuel
Daylight
Avoidance of congested areas where required
Aircraft limitations
The pilot reviews the aircraft condition, available maintenance information and Special Flight Permit before departure.
If the aircraft condition does not match expectations or appears unsafe, the pilot may decline or delay the flight.
The aircraft is operated strictly within the limitations of the permit and applicable regulations.
The destination may be:
Maintenance facility
Annual inspection shop
Storage location
Repair facility
Another authorized destination
Ferry permit flight pricing depends on the mission.
Factors may include:
Aircraft type
Distance
Aircraft condition
Pilot qualifications
Permit limitations
Route
Number of stops
Number of flight days
Pilot travel
Airline airfare
Hotels
Ground transportation
Maintenance coordination
Insurance requirements
A simple short flight involving an expired annual may be very different from moving a complex aircraft with operational limitations across several states.
Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific quotes.
REQUEST A FERRY PERMIT FLIGHT QUOTE
The FAA application process and any related maintenance or inspection expenses are separate from Ferry Flight USA’s pilot and flight-service pricing.
Potential total costs can include:
Maintenance inspection
Mechanic travel
Repairs required before flight
Permit preparation
Ferry pilot fee
Pilot travel
Fuel
Oil
Airport fees
Hotels
Ground transportation
The specific cost depends on the aircraft and situation.
Ferry Flight USA can evaluate qualifying Special Flight Permit missions throughout the United States.
Examples can include aircraft located in:
Florida
Texas
California
Arizona
Georgia
North Carolina
Tennessee
The Northeast
The Midwest
The Mountain West
The West Coast
And nationwide
Because Special Flight Permits are mission-specific, each request needs to be evaluated individually.
Aircraft owners should also be aware that a U.S. Special Flight Permit does not automatically authorize operation through another country’s airspace.
International missions can involve additional approvals from the countries involved.
If an aircraft must cross an international border, that requirement should be addressed separately.
Our focus is moving aircraft from where they are to where they need to go.
Pilot selection is based on the aircraft, qualifications, insurance and permit limitations.
We can coordinate the flight operation with the owner and appropriate maintenance contacts.
Ferry Flight USA can evaluate qualifying missions throughout the United States.
A ferry permit is authorization to perform a specific flight—not pressure to fly an unsafe aircraft.
The route and flight are planned around the aircraft’s actual condition and the limitations imposed by the FAA.
What is a ferry permit?
A ferry permit is the common name for an FAA Special Flight Permit, which may allow an aircraft that does not currently meet all applicable airworthiness requirements to make a specific authorized flight if it is capable of safe operation.
Can I ferry an airplane with an expired annual?
Potentially, yes. The FAA specifically recognizes flying an aircraft with an expired annual to a location where the annual can be completed as a common use for a Special Flight Permit.
Who issues a ferry permit?
The FAA issues Special Flight Permits.
How do I apply for a ferry permit?
Applications can be submitted through the FAA’s Airworthiness Certification process. The applicant must provide information about the aircraft, proposed flight, crew, route and noncompliance with applicable airworthiness requirements.
Does a mechanic need to inspect the aircraft?
The FAA may require an inspection or tests before approving the permit. Maintenance personnel are often involved in evaluating whether the aircraft is capable of safe flight.
Can a ferry permit override an Airworthiness Directive?
Not necessarily. If an AD prohibits further flight and does not allow operation under a Special Flight Permit, the aircraft generally must comply before it can fly.
Can passengers ride on a ferry permit flight?
Do not assume they can. The authorization may limit occupants to required crew. The specific permit and applicable regulations control.
Does insurance still apply?
Yes. FAA authorization does not replace insurance requirements. The insurer may impose separate pilot and aircraft requirements.
Can you fly the aircraft to my preferred A&P or IA?
Potentially, if the FAA authorization allows the mission and the destination is appropriate.
Can you ferry an aircraft to an engine shop?
Yes, if the aircraft qualifies, the required authorization is issued and the aircraft is capable of safe operation under the permit.
Can a ferry permit be used after I buy an out-of-annual aircraft?
Potentially, yes. A newly purchased aircraft may qualify for a Special Flight Permit to reach an inspection or maintenance facility, depending on the circumstances.
Can Ferry Flight USA obtain the permit for me?
Ferry Flight USA primarily provides flight and pilot coordination. We can work with the owner, maintenance personnel and other appropriate parties regarding the operational requirements, but FAA approval must be properly obtained by the applicant.
What information do you need first?
Provide the aircraft make and model, N-number, current location, intended destination, annual status, description of the discrepancy, maintenance contact and whether a Special Flight Permit has already been requested or issued.
Do not attempt to solve an airworthiness problem by simply finding a pilot willing to fly the airplane.
The correct process is:
Evaluate the aircraft.
Determine whether a Special Flight Permit is appropriate.
Obtain the required FAA authorization.
Match the aircraft with the right pilot.
Conduct the flight within the permit limitations.
Ferry Flight USA can help with the aircraft-movement side of that process.
