The Complete Pre-Delivery Checklist for Aircraft Ferry Flights
Your aircraft is ready to move.
Or is it?
A successful aircraft delivery begins before the ferry pilot arrives at the airport.
Whether you just purchased an airplane, sold an aircraft to an out-of-state buyer, need an aircraft moved to maintenance or are repositioning a company or flight-school aircraft, good preparation can prevent unnecessary delays, additional travel expenses and last-minute surprises.
Ferry Flight USA provides professional aircraft ferry, delivery and repositioning services throughout the United States.
We created this aircraft delivery checklist to help:
- Aircraft buyers
- Aircraft sellers
- Aircraft owners
- Aircraft brokers
- Aircraft dealers
- Flight schools
- Maintenance facilities
- Aircraft management companies
prepare an aircraft for pickup and delivery.
Use this checklist before the ferry pilot travels to the airplane.
Need Your Aircraft Delivered?
Tell us:
What aircraft are we moving?
Where is it located?
Where does it need to go?
When will it be ready?
REQUEST AN AIRCRAFT FERRY QUOTE
Aircraft Delivery Checklist at a Glance
Before scheduling your aircraft delivery, confirm:
☐ Aircraft make and model
☐ Aircraft registration number
☐ Serial number
☐ Departure airport
☐ Destination airport
☐ Aircraft availability date
☐ Ownership or authorization to move aircraft confirmed
☐ Closing completed if aircraft was sold
☐ Insurance active
☐ Ferry pilot meets insurance requirements
☐ Required aircraft documents available
☐ Aircraft maintenance status confirmed
☐ Annual or applicable inspection current
☐ Known discrepancies disclosed
☐ Aircraft ready for flight
☐ Keys available
☐ Hangar or ramp access arranged
☐ Fuel status confirmed
☐ Oil status confirmed
☐ Battery condition confirmed
☐ Tires and brakes checked
☐ Avionics condition reported
☐ Seller/broker/FBO contact confirmed
☐ Pickup instructions provided
☐ Destination parking or hangar arranged
☐ Destination contact confirmed
☐ Aircraft handoff instructions established
Completing these items before pilot travel can make aircraft delivery significantly smoother.
1. Confirm the Aircraft Information
Start with the basics.
Provide Ferry Flight USA with accurate aircraft information.
Aircraft Identification
☐ Manufacturer
☐ Model
☐ Year
☐ N-number
☐ Serial number
☐ Aircraft category
☐ Aircraft class
If the aircraft is a specialized variant, tell us.
Examples might include:
- Turbocharged version
- Pressurized version
- Tailwheel conversion
- Amphibious configuration
- Modified engine
- STC’d aircraft
- Experimental aircraft
- Special avionics configuration
The difference between two versions of the same aircraft can affect pilot requirements, insurance requirements and mission planning.
2. Confirm the Departure Airport
Provide the exact airport where the aircraft is physically located.
Do not simply provide the nearest city.
Departure Information
☐ Airport name
☐ Airport identifier
☐ Aircraft exact location
☐ Hangar number if applicable
☐ FBO name
☐ Ramp location
☐ Gate information
☐ Airport access instructions
☐ Local contact name
☐ Local contact phone number
This is especially important when the departure airport has:
- Multiple FBOs
- Multiple ramps
- Private hangars
- Restricted gate access
- Large airport grounds
The ferry pilot should know exactly where to find the aircraft before arriving.
3. Confirm the Destination Airport
Provide the exact delivery location.
Destination Information
☐ Airport name
☐ Airport identifier
☐ FBO
☐ Hangar location
☐ Parking instructions
☐ Owner contact
☐ Maintenance-shop contact if applicable
☐ Gate/access instructions
☐ After-hours arrangements if necessary
Make sure the destination is appropriate for the aircraft.
Relevant factors can include:
- Runway length
- Runway surface
- Airport operating hours
- Fuel availability
- Parking
- Hangar availability
- Aircraft performance
4. Confirm the Aircraft Is Actually Ready
This sounds obvious.
It is also one of the most important parts of the checklist.
Do not schedule a ferry pilot to travel across the country if the airplane is still:
- In maintenance
- Waiting for a part
- Waiting for closing
- Waiting for insurance
- Waiting for a logbook entry
- Waiting for an inspection
- Blocked inside a hangar
- Missing keys
- Unable to start
Before confirming pilot travel:
Aircraft Ready Checklist
☐ Maintenance complete
☐ Aircraft released when required
☐ Required inspections current
☐ Keys available
☐ Battery serviceable
☐ Aircraft accessible
☐ No unresolved issue preventing departure
☐ Seller or shop confirms aircraft is ready
A pilot arriving before the aircraft is actually available can create unnecessary airline changes, hotels, rental cars and additional mission costs.
5. Confirm Aircraft Ownership or Authorization
The person requesting the aircraft movement should have the authority to authorize the flight.
For a newly purchased aircraft, make sure the transaction has reached the appropriate stage before the ferry pilot takes possession of the aircraft.
For a Purchase Delivery
☐ Purchase closing complete
☐ Seller has released aircraft
☐ Buyer has authority to take possession
☐ Insurance effective
☐ Aircraft delivery instructions confirmed
☐ Seller/broker knows who is picking up aircraft
☐ Keys can be released to ferry pilot
Do not put the pilot in the middle of an unresolved ownership dispute or incomplete closing.
6. Confirm Aircraft Insurance
Insurance should be addressed before the ferry pilot travels.
Aircraft insurance policies can establish requirements beyond basic FAA pilot qualifications.
Depending on the aircraft and policy, requirements may involve:
- Pilot certificate
- Instrument rating
- Total flight time
- Time in category
- Time in class
- Retractable-gear experience
- Multi-engine experience
- Turbine experience
- Time in make and model
- Training requirements
- Named-pilot approval
- Type rating
Insurance Checklist
☐ Aircraft insurance active
☐ Effective date confirmed
☐ Ferry flight covered
☐ Pilot requirements obtained
☐ Ferry pilot information submitted if necessary
☐ Named-pilot approval obtained if required
☐ Insurance confirmation completed before pilot travel
A pilot can be legally qualified under FAA rules and still fail to satisfy a particular aircraft insurance policy.
LEARN ABOUT AIRCRAFT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
7. Verify Aircraft Registration Status
Aircraft registration should be reviewed before the delivery flight.
For a normal U.S. aircraft delivery:
☐ N-number confirmed
☐ Registration status checked
☐ Owner information reconciled with transaction
☐ Required registration documentation available
If the aircraft was just purchased:
☐ Aircraft Registration Application completed as applicable
☐ Evidence of ownership completed
☐ Required FAA registration submission arranged
☐ Temporary operating authority requirements understood where applicable
New aircraft owners should not simply assume that completing the purchase agreement automatically completes FAA aircraft registration.
8. Confirm Required Aircraft Documents
Before departure, make sure the required aircraft documentation is available and appropriate for the planned operation.
Depending on the aircraft and mission, this can involve:
☐ Airworthiness certificate
☐ Aircraft registration documentation
☐ Aircraft operating limitations
☐ Approved aircraft flight manual or pilot operating handbook when required
☐ Weight-and-balance information
☐ Applicable supplements
☐ Required equipment documentation
☐ Special Flight Permit and limitations when applicable
International Flight
Additional documentation may be required for international operations.
Do not assume a document set adequate for a domestic ferry flight is necessarily sufficient for an international aircraft delivery.
9. Do Not Confuse Logbooks With Onboard Aircraft Documents
Aircraft maintenance records are extremely important.
But they are not the same thing as the documents normally carried aboard the aircraft.
For a newly purchased aircraft, establish exactly how the logbooks will be transferred.
Options may include:
- Delivered separately to buyer
- Held by escrow
- Shipped securely
- Picked up by owner
- Transferred through broker
- Transferred through maintenance facility
Avoid casually placing irreplaceable original aircraft logbooks inside an unattended airplane unless that has been specifically agreed upon.
Logbook Handoff Checklist
☐ Airframe logs accounted for
☐ Engine logs accounted for
☐ Propeller logs accounted for
☐ Historical records accounted for
☐ Major alteration records accounted for
☐ Avionics records accounted for
☐ Transfer method agreed upon
☐ Buyer knows where records are located
10. Confirm the Annual Inspection Status
For aircraft subject to annual inspection requirements:
☐ Annual date confirmed
☐ Annual remains current for delivery
☐ Maintenance release appropriately completed
☐ Any unresolved discrepancies understood
If the annual has expired, the airplane generally should not simply be dispatched as an ordinary ferry flight.
A qualifying aircraft may require an FAA Special Flight Permit, commonly called a ferry permit, to be repositioned to the maintenance facility.
11. Confirm Other Applicable Inspection Requirements
Depending on the aircraft and operation, other inspection requirements may be relevant.
Examples can include:
- 100-hour inspection
- Condition inspection
- ELT inspection
- Transponder inspection
- Altimeter/static-system requirements
- Aircraft-specific maintenance requirements
The applicable owner, operator and maintenance personnel should confirm the aircraft’s status for the intended flight.
12. Disclose Known Aircraft Discrepancies
Tell Ferry Flight USA and the ferry pilot about known aircraft problems before pickup.
Do not wait for the pilot to discover them.
Examples
☐ Oil leak
☐ Brake issue
☐ Tire concern
☐ Battery problem
☐ Starter issue
☐ Alternator issue
☐ Avionics failure
☐ Autopilot issue
☐ Fuel-gauge discrepancy
☐ Fuel-system issue
☐ Landing-gear discrepancy
☐ Instrument failure
☐ Heater problem
☐ Door or window problem
☐ Lighting issue
☐ Engine-related concern
☐ Propeller concern
☐ Known squawk
A pilot can plan for a known condition.
An unexpected condition discovered after traveling 1,500 miles to retrieve the aircraft is much more difficult.
13. Check the Aircraft Battery
Aircraft that have been sitting for extended periods frequently develop battery problems.
Before pilot arrival:
☐ Battery condition checked
☐ Aircraft starts normally
☐ Battery charged if necessary
☐ External power equipment identified if required
☐ Battery replacement completed if necessary
A dead battery can turn a straightforward pickup into an unnecessary maintenance delay.
14. Check Aircraft Fuel
Confirm:
☐ Fuel quantity
☐ Fuel type
☐ Aircraft fueled as agreed
☐ Fuel caps secure
☐ Fuel contamination concerns addressed
☐ Fuel availability at departure airport
The pilot will determine the actual fuel requirement based on:
- Aircraft limitations
- Weight
- Route
- Weather
- Fuel stops
- Required reserves
Do not assume “fill it completely” is always the correct answer.
Weight and balance still matter.
15. Check Engine Oil
Before departure:
☐ Oil quantity checked
☐ Correct oil available if needed
☐ Known oil consumption disclosed
☐ Significant oil leaks disclosed
☐ Recent maintenance affecting oil system disclosed
For long-distance piston-aircraft delivery, having appropriate additional oil available may be useful depending on the aircraft and engine.
16. Check Tires
Aircraft tires should be inspected before a long-distance delivery.
Check for:
☐ Proper inflation
☐ Excessive wear
☐ Flat spots
☐ Visible cord
☐ Sidewall damage
☐ Cracking
☐ Valve issues
A tire that is barely acceptable for another local flight may be a poor choice for an aircraft about to make ten landings while crossing the country.
17. Check Brakes
Before aircraft delivery:
☐ Brakes functioning normally
☐ No obvious hydraulic leaks
☐ Brake pads appropriate for flight
☐ Parking brake condition known
☐ Known brake discrepancies disclosed
The ferry pilot should not discover an ineffective brake system while taxiing for departure.
18. Confirm Landing Gear Condition
For retractable-gear aircraft:
☐ Gear operation status known
☐ No unresolved gear squawks
☐ Hydraulic system status known where applicable
☐ Gear warning systems functioning as applicable
☐ Recent landing-gear maintenance disclosed
If the aircraft recently had gear work performed, tell the pilot.
19. Confirm Avionics Status
Provide an accurate avionics list and disclose equipment that is not functioning correctly.
Avionics Checklist
☐ COM radios
☐ NAV radios
☐ GPS navigator
☐ Transponder
☐ ADS-B
☐ Audio panel
☐ PFD
☐ MFD
☐ Autopilot
☐ Engine monitor
☐ Weather equipment
☐ Traffic equipment
☐ Intercom
☐ ELT status as applicable
Tell the pilot exactly what is inoperative.
This can affect:
- Route
- Weather requirements
- Airspace
- IFR capability
- Night operations
- Mission timing
20. Confirm Aircraft Configuration
Make sure the ferry provider knows about unusual aircraft configuration or modifications.
Examples include:
- Long-range fuel tanks
- Tip tanks
- Engine conversion
- STOL kit
- Vortex generators
- Modified gross weight
- Larger engine
- Aftermarket propeller
- Glass-panel conversion
- Autopilot modification
- Amphibious gear
- Tailwheel conversion
- Supplemental oxygen
- Deicing equipment
Configuration affects aircraft performance and pilot familiarization.
21. Provide Accurate Weight & Balance Information
Aircraft loading still matters during a ferry flight.
Provide current:
☐ Empty weight
☐ Empty-weight CG
☐ Useful load
☐ Weight-and-balance data
☐ Recent equipment-change documentation
This is especially important if the aircraft recently underwent:
- Avionics installation
- Interior work
- Engine change
- Paint
- Equipment removal
- Major modification
Current weight-and-balance information should reflect the aircraft’s actual configuration.
22. Remove Unnecessary Personal Items
Do not leave the aircraft packed with unnecessary belongings unless those items are intentionally being transported and have been disclosed.
Remove or identify:
- Heavy tools
- Spare parts
- Cases of oil
- Personal luggage
- Aircraft covers
- Tow bars
- Cleaning supplies
- Loose equipment
- Boxes
- Survival equipment
- Baggage
These items affect:
- Weight
- CG
- Useful load
- Fuel planning
If something must travel with the aircraft, tell the ferry pilot in advance.
23. Secure Loose Items
A cross-country delivery may involve turbulence and repeated takeoffs and landings.
Secure:
☐ Tow bar
☐ Control lock
☐ Headsets
☐ Fire extinguisher
☐ Portable electronics
☐ Tools
☐ Baggage
☐ Charts
☐ Loose interior items
Nothing should be free to move around the cockpit or cabin during flight.
24. Confirm Aircraft Keys
It is surprisingly easy for an aircraft pickup to be delayed because nobody knows where the keys are.
Confirm:
☐ Ignition key
☐ Door key
☐ Baggage key
☐ Fuel-cap key if applicable
☐ Hangar key if applicable
☐ Spare key location
Tell the pilot exactly who has them.
25. Arrange Hangar & Ramp Access
If the aircraft is stored in a hangar:
☐ Hangar access authorized
☐ Door operation understood
☐ Aircraft can be moved out
☐ Tow equipment available if needed
☐ Other aircraft are not blocking it
☐ Airport gate access arranged
If the aircraft is located on a private field or secured airport, provide access instructions before the pilot arrives.
26. Provide Ground-Handling Information
Some aircraft require specific equipment or handling procedures.
Tell the pilot about:
- Tow-bar requirements
- Tug requirements
- Nose-gear limitations
- Parking brake limitations
- Chocks
- Control locks
- Covers
- Engine plugs
- Pitot covers
If special ground-handling equipment is needed, make sure it is available.
27. Identify Who Will Meet the Pilot
At the departure airport, identify the person responsible for aircraft access.
Pickup Contact
Name:
Phone:
Email:
Role:
☐ Seller
☐ Broker
☐ Dealer
☐ Mechanic
☐ FBO
☐ Owner
☐ Aircraft manager
The pilot should not land after an airline trip and begin calling random numbers trying to find the airplane.
28. Confirm Pilot Travel Timing
Do not book pilot travel until the major prerequisites are satisfied.
Confirm:
☐ Aircraft ready
☐ Closing complete when applicable
☐ Insurance approved
☐ Aircraft accessible
☐ Maintenance complete
☐ Weather window reasonably evaluated
☐ Pilot schedule confirmed
Airline travel may need to be flexible because aircraft transactions and maintenance do not always finish exactly on schedule.
29. Review the Weather Window
Weather can change the delivery schedule.
Depending on the aircraft and route, concerns can include:
- Thunderstorms
- Icing
- Low ceilings
- High winds
- Turbulence
- Mountain weather
- Fog
- Tropical weather
- Winter storms
Owners should expect the pilot to make the final operational weather decisions.
An aircraft delivery schedule should never create pressure to accept unsafe weather.
30. Review the Proposed Route
The shortest route is not always the best route.
Route planning may account for:
- Aircraft performance
- Range
- Fuel
- Weather
- Terrain
- Airspace
- Airport availability
- Maintenance support
- Daylight
- Winds
Especially on long-distance piston flights, the final route may change as weather evolves.
31. Confirm Fuel Stops
The pilot normally plans operational fuel stops.
Owners do not need to prescribe every airport.
However, tell the pilot about any relevant factors such as:
- Fuel-card requirements
- Limited fuel type
- Aircraft-specific fuel considerations
- Owner-requested stop when operationally appropriate
The actual route remains subject to safe pilot decision-making.
32. Plan for Overnight Stops
Long-distance delivery may require one or more overnight stops.
Factors include:
- Aircraft speed
- Distance
- Weather
- Winds
- Fuel range
- Daylight
- Pilot duty time
Do not plan a 2,000-mile piston delivery around the assumption that the pilot must complete it in one day.
33. Provide Destination Handoff Instructions
Before the flight begins, establish what should happen when the airplane arrives.
Delivery Options
☐ Owner meets pilot
☐ Buyer meets pilot
☐ FBO accepts aircraft
☐ Maintenance shop accepts aircraft
☐ Aircraft placed in hangar
☐ Aircraft parked on ramp
☐ Broker accepts aircraft
☐ Flight school accepts aircraft
☐ Aircraft manager accepts aircraft
Provide:
- Contact name
- Phone number
- FBO
- Hangar number
- Parking instructions
- Key instructions
34. Arrange Destination Parking or Hangar Space
Do not wait until the airplane lands to determine where it will be parked.
Confirm:
☐ Ramp parking
☐ Hangar availability
☐ Tie-down
☐ Overnight parking
☐ FBO handling
☐ After-hours access
This is especially important at busy or controlled airports.
35. Decide What Happens to the Keys
At final delivery:
☐ Keys handed directly to owner
☐ Keys left with FBO
☐ Keys delivered to maintenance shop
☐ Keys delivered to broker
☐ Other agreed arrangement
Avoid leaving keys in an unsecured aircraft without explicit authorization.
36. Establish Aircraft Condition Documentation
For purchase and sale deliveries, documenting aircraft condition at pickup and delivery can be helpful.
Potential documentation can include:
☐ Exterior photographs
☐ Interior photographs
☐ Instrument-panel photograph
☐ Hobbs time
☐ Tach time
☐ Fuel status
☐ Visible aircraft condition
☐ Existing cosmetic damage
This can help establish the condition of the aircraft when custody changes.
Ferry Flight USA’s site emphasizes professional pickup and delivery handoff as part of the service experience.
37. Record Starting Times
For aircraft with applicable meters or maintenance tracking:
☐ Tach time
☐ Hobbs time
☐ Engine time data when applicable
☐ Aircraft total time as available
For a sale delivery, both parties may want a record of the aircraft time when the ferry mission begins.
38. Record Delivery Times
At arrival:
☐ Ending tach time
☐ Ending Hobbs
☐ Flight time as appropriate
☐ Destination airport
☐ Delivery date
☐ Delivery contact
This provides a clean end point for the mission.
Newly Purchased Aircraft Delivery Checklist
If the aircraft has just been purchased, also confirm:
☐ Pre-buy completed
☐ Agreed repairs completed
☐ Purchase agreement satisfied
☐ Closing completed
☐ Funds transferred
☐ Seller released aircraft
☐ Aircraft insurance active
☐ Buyer registration documents prepared
☐ Aircraft records transfer arranged
☐ Ferry pilot approved by insurance
☐ Seller knows pilot identity
☐ Aircraft pickup authorized
☐ Destination parking arranged
☐ Buyer knows expected delivery process
NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT DELIVERY
Seller Aircraft Delivery Checklist
If you are selling the aircraft:
☐ Confirm closing before release
☐ Confirm buyer identity
☐ Confirm person authorized to collect aircraft
☐ Provide keys
☐ Provide aircraft access
☐ Disclose aircraft discrepancies
☐ Confirm fuel status
☐ Arrange records transfer
☐ Remove personal belongings
☐ Document aircraft condition
☐ Provide pickup contact
☐ Confirm when custody transfers
AIRCRAFT SALE & BUYER DELIVERY
Aircraft Broker Delivery Checklist
For aircraft brokers:
☐ Buyer delivery instructions confirmed
☐ Seller release confirmed
☐ Closing status confirmed
☐ Aircraft access coordinated
☐ Ferry pilot contact provided
☐ Insurance requirements confirmed
☐ Maintenance status verified
☐ Known discrepancies communicated
☐ Aircraft documents located
☐ Keys located
☐ Buyer destination instructions provided
☐ Logbook transfer coordinated
AIRCRAFT BROKER FERRY SERVICES
Aircraft Dealer Delivery Checklist
For aircraft dealers:
☐ Sale completed
☐ Delivery responsibility established
☐ Aircraft fueled as agreed
☐ Maintenance complete
☐ Aircraft detailed if applicable
☐ Documents prepared
☐ Keys ready
☐ Customer insurance confirmed
☐ Pilot requirements confirmed
☐ Pilot pickup arranged
☐ Customer destination confirmed
☐ Delivery handoff instructions established
AIRCRAFT DEALER FERRY SERVICES
Maintenance Ferry Flight Checklist
If the aircraft is going to maintenance:
☐ Maintenance facility confirmed
☐ Appointment confirmed
☐ Shop expects aircraft
☐ Aircraft current status disclosed
☐ Known discrepancies provided
☐ Required permit status confirmed
☐ Pilot qualifications confirmed
☐ Destination shop contact provided
☐ Parking/hangar arranged
☐ Return-flight plan discussed
Flight School Aircraft Delivery Checklist
For flight schools:
☐ Aircraft registration identified
☐ Maintenance tracking current
☐ 100-hour status verified
☐ Annual status verified
☐ Known squawks provided
☐ Fuel status confirmed
☐ Aircraft scheduling block established
☐ Pilot qualifications verified
☐ Insurance requirements verified
☐ Campus/base destination confirmed
☐ Local staff expecting aircraft
☐ Aircraft dispatch information provided
FLIGHT SCHOOL FLEET REPOSITIONING
Ferry Permit Delivery Checklist
If the aircraft cannot make a normal delivery flight and a Special Flight Permit may be required:
☐ Reason for permit identified
☐ Aircraft evaluated
☐ Mechanic involved as appropriate
☐ FAA application process started
☐ Special Flight Permit received
☐ Operating limitations reviewed
☐ Insurance coverage confirmed
☐ Ferry pilot qualifications confirmed
☐ Route complies with permit
☐ Weather complies with applicable limitations
☐ Destination maintenance facility ready
A ferry permit does not eliminate the pilot’s responsibility to determine whether the aircraft is appropriate for the proposed flight.
Day Before Aircraft Pickup Checklist
Twenty-four hours before planned pickup, confirm:
☐ Aircraft still ready
☐ No new maintenance issues
☐ Insurance active
☐ Pilot approved
☐ Keys available
☐ Fuel status confirmed
☐ Battery operational
☐ Aircraft accessible
☐ Local contact available
☐ Weather reviewed
☐ Pilot travel confirmed
☐ Destination still available
This final confirmation can prevent expensive travel mistakes.
Morning of Aircraft Pickup Checklist
Before the pilot begins traveling or arrives:
☐ Aircraft access reconfirmed
☐ Seller/FBO/shop contact available
☐ Keys physically located
☐ Aircraft not blocked in hangar
☐ Fuel available
☐ Maintenance complete
☐ No unexpected squawks
☐ Required documents available
☐ Destination plans unchanged
Aircraft Delivery Handoff Checklist
At the destination:
☐ Aircraft parked as instructed
☐ Aircraft secured
☐ Control lock installed where appropriate
☐ Chocks/tie-downs used as appropriate
☐ Keys transferred
☐ Owner/FBO/shop notified
☐ Delivery time recorded
☐ Tach/Hobbs recorded as applicable
☐ Aircraft condition communicated
☐ Any discrepancies encountered during trip reported
☐ Final delivery confirmed
A professional handoff is the final step in a successful aircraft ferry mission.
Aircraft Delivery Checklist FAQ
What should I do before a ferry pilot picks up my aircraft?
Make sure the aircraft is ready, accessible and appropriately documented. Confirm insurance, maintenance status, keys, known discrepancies, departure contact and destination instructions before the pilot travels.
What information does a ferry pilot need?
At minimum, provide the aircraft make/model, registration number, departure airport, destination airport, aircraft condition, maintenance status, avionics configuration and relevant insurance requirements.
Should the airplane be fueled before the ferry pilot arrives?
The fuel status should be known, but do not automatically fill the aircraft completely without considering weight and balance. The ferry pilot can determine the appropriate fuel load for the planned mission.
Should aircraft logbooks travel in the airplane?
Aircraft maintenance records should be transferred according to the agreement between buyer, seller, broker or owner. Because original aircraft records can be difficult or impossible to replace, establish a secure transfer method rather than assuming they should simply be left in the airplane.
Does the ferry pilot need aircraft insurance approval?
Possibly. Aircraft insurance policies may have specific pilot requirements. Confirm them before pilot travel.
Can the aircraft be delivered immediately after closing?
Potentially, provided the aircraft is ready, insurance is effective, appropriate registration documentation is addressed, the pilot is approved and all other requirements for the flight are satisfied.
What happens if the pilot finds a maintenance problem?
The departure may be delayed while the problem is evaluated. Depending on the discrepancy, local maintenance, repairs or another solution may be required.
Can an aircraft with an expired annual be delivered?
It generally cannot simply be operated as a normal delivery flight. A qualifying aircraft may be eligible for an FAA Special Flight Permit to be moved to the location where the annual inspection will be performed.
Do I need to be at the destination when my aircraft arrives?
Not necessarily. Delivery may be coordinated with an FBO, maintenance shop, broker, dealer or another authorized representative when arranged in advance.
Can Ferry Flight USA deliver directly to my hangar?
Potentially, provided the airport and hangar are suitable and access arrangements have been made.
Can Ferry Flight USA pick up an aircraft directly from the seller?
Yes. Pickup can be coordinated with the seller, broker, dealer, maintenance facility or another authorized party.
Can Ferry Flight USA bring an aircraft home after a purchase?
Yes. Newly purchased aircraft delivery is one of the primary reasons owners use professional aircraft ferry services.
Can you move an aircraft to a maintenance facility?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying maintenance repositioning flights throughout the United States.
Can you deliver aircraft coast to coast?
Yes. Qualifying aircraft can be delivered regionally or across the United States, subject to aircraft, pilot, insurance, weather and mission requirements.
Ready for Aircraft Delivery?
Completing this checklist before the ferry pilot travels can help create a smoother pickup, flight and delivery.
The most important items are simple:
Is the aircraft ready?
Is the aircraft insured?
Is the pilot approved?
Are the keys available?
Are known discrepancies disclosed?
Can the pilot access the airplane?
Does everyone know where the aircraft is going?
If the answers are yes, you are well on your way to a successful aircraft delivery.
Request Your Aircraft Delivery
Tell Ferry Flight USA:
What aircraft are we moving?
Where is it now?
Where does it need to go?
When will it be ready?
GET MY AIRCRAFT DELIVERY QUOTE
Related Resources
NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT DELIVERY
BUYING AN AIRCRAFT OUT OF STATE
AIRCRAFT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Ferry Flight USA
Aircraft Ferry • Aircraft Delivery • Aircraft Repositioning • Nationwide Service
This checklist is general educational and planning information. Aircraft owners, operators, pilots and maintenance personnel remain responsible for determining the documents, inspections, maintenance, registration, insurance, operating requirements and aircraft condition applicable to a particular flight. Ferry Flight USA mission acceptance is subject to aircraft condition, applicable regulations, pilot qualifications, insurance requirements, weather, crew availability and mission requirements.