FAA Ferry Permit Guide
The Complete Guide to FAA Special Flight Permits for Aircraft Ferry Flights
Your airplane needs to go to another airport for maintenance.
There is only one problem:
The aircraft may not currently meet all of the normal airworthiness requirements needed for the flight.
Maybe the annual inspection has expired.
Maybe the aircraft needs a repair that cannot be completed at its current airport.
Maybe an experimental aircraft’s condition inspection is no longer current.
Maybe the airplane needs to be moved to a maintenance facility, storage location or specialty repair shop.
In certain circumstances, the Federal Aviation Administration may issue a Special Flight Permit, commonly referred to in aviation as a ferry permit.
A Special Flight Permit can allow a U.S.-registered aircraft that may not currently meet all applicable airworthiness requirements—but is capable of safe flight—to make a specific authorized flight for an approved purpose.
A ferry permit is not permission to fly an unsafe airplane.
It is a specific FAA authorization issued for a specific aircraft, purpose and flight, often with operating limitations that must be followed.
Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying ferry-permit aircraft movements throughout the United States and can help owners plan the operational side of getting an aircraft from its current location to the maintenance, repair or storage facility where it needs to go.
Need to Move an Aircraft That May Require a Ferry Permit?
Tell us what aircraft you have, where it is located, where it needs to go, why it cannot be operated normally and what maintenance condition currently exists.
What Is an FAA Ferry Permit?
“Ferry permit” is the commonly used aviation term for an FAA Special Flight Permit.
Under FAA regulations, a Special Flight Permit may be issued for an aircraft that may not currently comply with all applicable airworthiness requirements but is nevertheless capable of safe flight for the proposed mission.
One of the most common uses is moving an aircraft:
from its present airport to a location where repairs, alterations or maintenance will be performed.
Special Flight Permits can also be used for certain other purposes recognized by the FAA, including movement to storage, aircraft delivery or export, evacuation from impending danger, certain production-related flights and qualifying excess-weight operations.
For most general aviation aircraft owners searching for a “ferry permit,” however, the situation is much simpler:
The airplane needs maintenance, but the maintenance facility is somewhere else.
Why Is It Called a Ferry Permit?
The FAA’s regulatory term is:
Special Flight Permit
Pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners commonly call it a:
Ferry Permit
The nickname comes from one of its most common uses—ferrying or repositioning an aircraft from one location to another when the aircraft cannot currently be operated as a normal airworthy aircraft.
You may therefore hear all of these phrases used to describe essentially the same type of authorization:
FAA ferry permit, aircraft ferry permit, maintenance ferry permit, Special Flight Permit or SFP.
When Might an Aircraft Need a Ferry Permit?
A ferry permit may be appropriate when an aircraft needs to be repositioned but cannot legally make the flight under its normal airworthiness status.
Common scenarios include an expired annual inspection, an expired condition inspection on certain experimental aircraft, a maintenance discrepancy that prevents normal operation but may still permit safe operation under specific conditions, or an aircraft that needs to be moved to a specialized maintenance facility.
The central question is not simply:
“Is the airplane technically unairworthy?”
The more important question for a Special Flight Permit is:
“Is the aircraft capable of safe flight for this specific proposed mission under appropriate limitations?”
That determination depends on the actual aircraft condition and FAA review.
Ferry Permit for an Expired Annual Inspection
This is probably the most common ferry-permit question from general aviation aircraft owners.
Can You Fly an Airplane With an Expired Annual?
Normally, an aircraft subject to the annual-inspection requirement cannot continue normal operations after the annual inspection has expired.
But if the airplane is located at Airport A and the maintenance shop that will perform the annual is at Airport B, the FAA may issue a Special Flight Permit allowing the aircraft to be flown to the location where the inspection will be completed.
For example:
Your Piper Archer’s annual expired while the aircraft was sitting in storage.
Your preferred maintenance shop is 120 miles away.
The aircraft appears otherwise capable of safe flight.
Rather than having the mechanic perform the entire annual at the aircraft’s present location, you may be able to obtain a ferry permit allowing the airplane to be repositioned to the maintenance facility.
The aircraft condition still needs to support safe operation.
An expired annual does not automatically mean the FAA will issue a permit, and the permit does not automatically mean the airplane is safe to fly.
Does an Expired Annual Automatically Require a Ferry Permit?
If the aircraft’s annual inspection has expired and the aircraft is subject to the annual-inspection requirement, normal operation generally is not permitted simply because the pilot intends to fly directly to a maintenance facility.
This is different from certain provisions involving 100-hour inspections.
For an expired annual, a Special Flight Permit may be the appropriate route when the aircraft needs to be flown to the location where the annual will be performed.
ANNUAL INSPECTION REPOSITIONING
What About an Expired 100-Hour Inspection?
An expired 100-hour inspection is not identical to an expired annual.
FAA regulations provide a limited allowance for certain aircraft subject to the 100-hour inspection requirement to exceed the 100-hour limit by up to 10 hours while en route to a place where the inspection can be performed.
Those additional hours count toward the next 100-hour period.
The details matter.
Whether that provision applies to your aircraft depends on the operation, inspection status and circumstances.
Do not assume that the 10-hour allowance can be used as a general extension of the inspection interval or that it replaces other requirements.
Experimental Aircraft With an Expired Condition Inspection
Experimental aircraft generally operate under conditions and inspection requirements different from standard-category certificated aircraft.
FAA field-office guidance recognizes moving certain amateur-built aircraft with an expired condition inspection to a location where the condition inspection can be completed as another common Special Flight Permit scenario.
As with any ferry-permit mission, the actual aircraft condition and applicable operating limitations must be evaluated.
Can an Aircraft With a Maintenance Problem Get a Ferry Permit?
Potentially.
An aircraft does not necessarily need to have only an expired inspection to qualify.
A Special Flight Permit may be considered where a specific maintenance discrepancy prevents normal operation but the aircraft may still be capable of safe flight under controlled conditions.
For example, a maintenance facility may need to evaluate whether the particular discrepancy allows the aircraft to be safely operated for a limited repositioning flight.
The FAA may require an inspection or additional information before deciding whether to issue the permit.
The resulting operating limitations may address the particular aircraft condition.
This is why ferry-permit flights are highly aircraft-specific.
A Ferry Permit Does Not Make an Unsafe Aircraft Safe
This is one of the most important concepts in this guide.
A Special Flight Permit is not a waiver allowing an obviously unsafe aircraft to fly.
The aircraft must be capable of safe flight for the proposed mission.
Depending on the situation, the FAA may require:
an inspection, maintenance evaluation, tests, supporting documentation or additional restrictions.
If the aircraft condition is not appropriate for flight, the correct solution may be repair at the current location or ground transportation—not a ferry permit.
Ferry Flight USA will not treat the existence of a permit as pressure to fly an aircraft that the assigned pilot determines should not be operated.
Who Determines Whether the Aircraft Is Safe to Ferry?
Several parties may be involved.
A certificated mechanic or maintenance facility may evaluate the aircraft and provide information regarding its condition.
The FAA determines whether the aircraft qualifies for issuance of a Special Flight Permit and what operating limitations apply.
The pilot in command must still evaluate the aircraft and proposed flight before departure.
Those responsibilities are related but they are not interchangeable.
A mechanic’s opinion does not itself create FAA authorization.
FAA authorization does not force the pilot to depart.
How Do You Get an FAA Ferry Permit?
For most owners, the process begins by determining exactly why the aircraft cannot be operated normally and what flight is being proposed.
The current FAA process allows applicants to apply online through the FAA’s Airworthiness Certification system, commonly referred to as AWC.
FAA Form 8130-6, Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate, is also the applicable FAA form for Special Flight Permit applications.
The FAA currently identifies online application through AWC as the preferred application method.
What Information Is Required for a Special Flight Permit?
Under 14 CFR §21.199, the application must provide information concerning the proposed operation.
That includes the purpose of the flight, proposed itinerary, required crew, the ways in which the aircraft does not meet applicable airworthiness requirements, restrictions the applicant believes are necessary for safe operation and other information the FAA determines is necessary.
In practical terms, applicants should be prepared to clearly explain:
What aircraft is involved?
Where is it now?
Where is it going?
Why does it need the Special Flight Permit?
What is wrong or out of compliance?
What crew will operate the flight?
What limitations may be needed?
The FAA may request additional supporting information depending on the aircraft and circumstances.
Who Can Apply for a Ferry Permit?
Depending on the circumstances, the application may be made by the registered owner, operator or an authorized agent.
The applicant must be able to provide the information necessary for the FAA to evaluate the aircraft and proposed flight.
Ferry Flight USA’s primary role is the aircraft movement, pilot matching and operational planning.
The aircraft owner or authorized applicant remains responsible for obtaining the Special Flight Permit unless a different arrangement has specifically been established with an appropriately authorized party.
Which FAA Office Handles a Ferry Permit?
FAA guidance generally places Special Flight Permit responsibility with the FAA office serving the geographic area where the flight will originate.
That is important.
If your aircraft is sitting in Arizona but the owner lives in Florida, the relevant FAA handling process is generally tied to the aircraft’s departure location—not simply the owner’s residence.
The FAA may also delegate authority to properly authorized designees in appropriate circumstances.
Does a Mechanic Issue the Ferry Permit?
No.
A certificated mechanic may play a critical role in evaluating the aircraft and may perform inspections, maintenance or documentation required as part of the process.
But the mechanic does not create an FAA Special Flight Permit merely by making a logbook entry saying that the airplane can be ferried.
The Special Flight Permit itself is an FAA airworthiness authorization issued through the applicable certification process or appropriately delegated authority.
Will the FAA Require a Mechanic to Inspect the Aircraft?
Possibly.
Under §21.199, the FAA may perform—or require the applicant to arrange—inspections or tests necessary to determine whether the aircraft can safely make the proposed flight.
The requirements depend on the aircraft and reason for the permit.
An expired annual on an otherwise serviceable aircraft may present a different evaluation from an aircraft with:
- Engine damage
- Landing-gear problems
- Structural concerns
- Fuel-system discrepancies
- Control-system issues
- Significant electrical faults
The more unusual the aircraft condition, the more detailed the evaluation may become.
What Operating Limitations Can Be Put on a Ferry Permit?
A Special Flight Permit is mission-specific.
The FAA may prescribe operating limitations considered necessary for the aircraft to safely complete the authorized flight.
Those limitations depend on the individual aircraft and condition.
Examples could potentially address subjects such as route, weather conditions, crew, passenger restrictions, day/VFR operation, landing gear configuration, fuel requirements or other aircraft-specific considerations.
The actual permit—not a generic internet example—controls the flight.
The pilot must review and operate within the specific limitations issued for that aircraft.
Can Passengers Ride on a Ferry Permit Flight?
Do not assume that they can.
A Special Flight Permit may limit the people who can be carried aboard the aircraft.
For many maintenance-related ferry flights, unnecessary occupants should not be assumed to be permitted simply because seats are available.
The specific authorization and applicable operating limitations determine who may be onboard.
If the owner wants to accompany the ferry pilot, that question should be addressed before the flight, not at the airport immediately before departure.
Does a Ferry Permit Override Part 91?
No.
A Special Flight Permit is not a general authorization to disregard the Federal Aviation Regulations.
FAA guidance specifically notes that a Special Flight Permit is not authorization to deviate from Part 91.
The aircraft must still be operated in accordance with the regulations that continue to apply as well as the limitations issued with the permit.
Can a Ferry Permit Override an Airworthiness Directive?
Do not assume so.
This is an especially important issue.
If an applicable Airworthiness Directive requires compliance before further flight and does not contain a provision allowing operation under a Special Flight Permit, FAA guidance says a ferry permit generally will not be issued to circumvent that requirement.
Some Airworthiness Directives specifically contain provisions addressing Special Flight Permits.
Others do not.
The actual AD must be reviewed.
A ferry permit is not a universal workaround for mandatory safety requirements.
Can You Ferry an Aircraft With an Inoperative Component?
Potentially, but the answer depends entirely on:
- The aircraft
- The failed component
- Applicable regulations
- Aircraft operating limitations
- Required equipment
- MEL or other authorization where applicable
- Airworthiness Directives
- Safe-flight determination
- Special Flight Permit limitations
A failed landing light and a failed flight control are obviously not equivalent conditions.
Each situation requires its own evaluation.
Ferry Permit for Landing Gear Problems
Landing-gear discrepancies are an example of why Special Flight Permit missions may require highly specific operating limitations.
Depending on the condition, aircraft design and FAA determination, a proposed flight could potentially require a particular gear configuration or other restrictions.
That does not mean every landing-gear problem qualifies for a ferry permit.
The aircraft must still be capable of safe flight for the approved mission.
These are situations where coordination between maintenance personnel, the FAA and an appropriately experienced ferry pilot becomes especially important.
Ferry Permit for Engine Problems
Engine-related ferry missions require careful evaluation.
An airplane with a minor discrepancy and an airplane with evidence of serious internal engine damage should not be treated the same.
Questions may include:
What failed?
What maintenance has already been performed?
What inspection has been completed?
Can the engine safely produce the power required for the flight?
What route minimizes operational risk?
What limitations would be required?
Sometimes the answer will be:
Repair the aircraft before flight.
A ferry permit should not be viewed as a shortcut around necessary maintenance.
Can You Ferry an Aircraft With a Propeller Problem?
Potentially only if the actual condition permits safe flight and all applicable requirements are satisfied.
Propeller defects can have serious consequences, particularly when structural damage, cracking, impact damage or significant vibration is involved.
The condition must be evaluated before a ferry flight is considered.
The existence of a distant propeller shop does not itself justify flying the aircraft there.
Can You Ferry an Aircraft With an Avionics Problem?
Many avionics discrepancies do not necessarily render an aircraft incapable of flight, but whether the aircraft can legally and safely make the proposed trip depends on:
- Equipment required for the flight
- Aircraft certification requirements
- Planned weather
- Airspace
- Applicable regulations
- Other functioning equipment
An aircraft with an inoperative GPS might still be capable of an appropriate VFR repositioning flight.
An aircraft with broad electrical-system failures could present a very different situation.
Each mission must be evaluated individually.
Ferry Permit for Aircraft Going to an Annual Inspection
Moving an aircraft to an annual inspection facility is one of the classic ferry-permit situations.
The process generally looks like this:
The owner identifies the maintenance facility.
The aircraft’s current condition is evaluated.
The required Special Flight Permit application is submitted.
The FAA determines whether the aircraft qualifies and establishes any required limitations.
An appropriately qualified pilot is selected.
The route is planned around the permit and aircraft condition.
The aircraft is flown to the annual-inspection facility.
The ferry flight ends.
The permit does not replace the annual inspection.
It simply provides authorization for the specific approved repositioning flight.
ANNUAL INSPECTION REPOSITIONING
Ferry Permit for Maintenance & Repair
Aircraft owners frequently need access to specialized maintenance located away from the aircraft’s current airport.
This can include:
engine shops, airframe specialists, avionics shops, structural repair facilities, propeller shops, aircraft restoration facilities and manufacturer-specialty maintenance providers.
If the aircraft cannot legally complete a normal flight to that facility, a Special Flight Permit may potentially provide the necessary path for an appropriate aircraft.
Can a Ferry Permit Be Used to Move an Aircraft to Storage?
Yes, moving an aircraft to a point of storage is one of the purposes recognized under the Special Flight Permit regulations.
The aircraft must still meet the safe-flight standard for the proposed operation, and the FAA may impose limitations.
Ferry Permits for Aircraft Evacuation
Special Flight Permits can also be used to evacuate qualifying aircraft from areas of impending danger.
This can become relevant before events such as:
hurricanes, flooding, wildfires or other significant hazards.
These missions can be time-sensitive, but the aircraft still has to be capable of safe flight and the required authorization must be obtained.
Aircraft owners in hurricane-prone areas should avoid waiting until the last possible moment to address aircraft readiness and evacuation planning.
Can a Ferry Permit Be Used for Aircraft Delivery?
Special Flight Permits can be issued for certain aircraft-delivery and export purposes recognized by the FAA.
However, most ordinary used-aircraft purchase deliveries do not require a ferry permit when the aircraft is normally airworthy and properly authorized for operation.
A normal aircraft delivery flight and a Special Flight Permit flight are not the same thing.
If you just purchased an airworthy Cessna 172 in another state and need it flown home, you generally need an aircraft ferry service, not a ferry permit merely because the flight is long-distance.
NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT DELIVERY
Ferry Permit vs. Normal Aircraft Ferry Flight
This distinction causes considerable confusion.
Normal Ferry Flight
The aircraft is appropriately airworthy for the planned operation.
The pilot is simply repositioning the aircraft.
No Special Flight Permit is required solely because someone calls the mission a “ferry flight.”
Ferry Permit Flight
The aircraft may not currently meet normal applicable airworthiness requirements.
The FAA has authorized a specific Special Flight Permit operation because the aircraft has been determined capable of safe flight under the approved conditions.
Most aircraft ferry flights are not ferry-permit flights.
Is a Ferry Permit Required When Buying an Aircraft Out of State?
Not normally.
Distance has nothing to do with whether a Special Flight Permit is required.
An airworthy aircraft can be flown from California to Florida as a normal cross-country aircraft delivery without obtaining a Special Flight Permit simply because ownership has changed.
A ferry permit becomes relevant when the aircraft’s airworthiness or certification status creates a need for specific FAA authorization.
[BUYING AN AIRCRAFT OUT OF STATE]
Is a Ferry Permit Required for a Pre-Buy Inspection?
Usually not if the aircraft is currently airworthy and legal for normal operation.
If the seller wants to move an airworthy aircraft to another airport for an independent pre-buy inspection, that can normally be handled as an ordinary aircraft repositioning flight.
A Special Flight Permit becomes relevant only when the aircraft cannot make the flight under normal applicable airworthiness requirements.
PRE-BUY INSPECTION REPOSITIONING
How Long Does It Take to Get a Ferry Permit?
There is no universal processing time.
The timeline can depend on:
- Aircraft condition
- Quality of the application information
- Whether an inspection is required
- FAA workload
- Availability of supporting maintenance personnel
- Complexity of the requested operation
- Additional information requested by the FAA
Owners should not make nonrefundable pilot travel arrangements based on the assumption that approval will be immediate.
Start the process as early as practical.
How Long Is a Ferry Permit Valid?
A Special Flight Permit is issued for a defined purpose and operation.
Do not treat it as a general temporary replacement for normal aircraft airworthiness.
The permit and its operating limitations define the authorized operation.
Once the authorized mission has been completed, the permit should not be assumed to authorize unrelated flights.
Can a Ferry Permit Be Used for Multiple Stops?
The approved itinerary and operating limitations control the mission.
A ferry flight may require fuel or operational stops depending on the distance and aircraft.
Those details should be considered when preparing the proposed itinerary.
The final route must remain consistent with the authorization and any operating limitations imposed.
Ferry Permit Route Planning
A ferry-permit route may be more conservative than the route used for a normal aircraft delivery.
Planning may consider:
weather, terrain, suitable airports, maintenance availability, aircraft range, fuel, daylight, populated areas and the specific aircraft discrepancy.
For example, an aircraft operating under a permit because of a known mechanical limitation may be routed to remain closer to suitable airports than an aircraft in normal condition.
The shortest route is not always the right route.
Ferry Permit Weather Planning
Weather matters on every ferry flight.
It can matter even more when the aircraft is being operated under specific limitations.
The permit may restrict the conditions under which the flight can be conducted.
Even when the permit itself does not prohibit a particular weather condition, the pilot must still determine whether the proposed conditions are appropriate for the aircraft’s actual condition and available equipment.
A schedule should never force a ferry-permit flight into unsuitable weather.
Who Can Fly an Aircraft on a Ferry Permit?
The pilot must still hold all certificates, ratings and endorsements required for the aircraft and proposed operation.
Pilot selection may additionally depend on:
make-and-model experience, complex-aircraft experience, tailwheel experience, multi-engine time, pressurization experience, turbine experience, type ratings, insurance requirements and the Special Flight Permit limitations.
Certain aircraft conditions may justify using a pilot with considerably more experience than would be needed for an ordinary flight.
Does Insurance Cover a Ferry Permit Flight?
FAA authorization and insurance authorization are separate issues.
A Special Flight Permit does not automatically mean that the aircraft owner’s insurance policy covers the flight or the selected pilot.
Before departure, the owner should confirm:
- Pilot requirements
- Aircraft coverage
- Ferry-permit operation
- Any named-pilot requirements
- Any exclusions or restrictions
Do this before the pilot travels to the aircraft.
AIRCRAFT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Ferry Permit Application Process
A practical ferry-permit workflow often looks like this:
1. Identify the problem. Determine why the aircraft cannot complete a normal repositioning flight.
2. Evaluate the aircraft. Appropriate maintenance personnel evaluate whether the aircraft may be capable of safe flight and what work, inspections or restrictions may be necessary.
3. Identify the destination. Determine exactly where the aircraft will be flown and why.
4. Prepare the application. Provide the purpose, itinerary, crew, noncompliance and proposed safety restrictions required for FAA review.
5. Submit through the applicable FAA process. The FAA currently prefers applications through the Airworthiness Certification system, with FAA Form 8130-6 also serving as the applicable application form.
6. Complete requested inspections or testing. The FAA may require additional evaluation.
7. Receive and review the permit. Understand every operating limitation before pilot dispatch.
8. Match the pilot. Confirm FAA qualifications, aircraft experience, insurance and permit requirements.
9. Plan the route. Build the operational plan around the actual aircraft condition and permit.
10. Conduct the flight only when appropriate. The pilot still retains operational decision-making responsibility.
What Happens If the FAA Denies the Ferry Permit?
If the FAA determines that the aircraft does not qualify for the proposed Special Flight Permit, the airplane should not be flown under the assumption that another pilot can simply take the risk.
The next step may involve:
- Repairing the aircraft at its current airport
- Bringing a mechanic to the aircraft
- Replacing a component locally
- Transporting the aircraft by ground
- Revising the proposed flight after the aircraft condition changes
Not every aircraft can—or should—be ferried.
Can You Get a Ferry Permit After an Accident?
Potentially, but accident-damaged aircraft can involve significant structural and mechanical concerns.
The fact that an airplane has wings attached and an engine that starts does not establish that it is capable of safe flight.
A qualified maintenance evaluation may need to address:
- Structural damage
- Landing gear
- Flight controls
- Propeller
- Engine
- Mounts
- Fuel system
- Control surfaces
Some damaged aircraft may ultimately need to be disassembled and transported rather than flown.
Can a Ferry Permit Be Used After a Gear-Up Landing?
Possibly in a particular case after appropriate repairs and evaluation, but this should never be assumed.
A gear-up landing can involve damage to:
propeller, engine, crankshaft, engine mounts, belly structure, antennas, exhaust, landing gear and other components.
The aircraft condition following the event must be properly evaluated before any ferry operation is considered.
Can a Ferry Permit Be Used When an AD Is Overdue?
This depends on the actual Airworthiness Directive.
FAA guidance specifically warns that if an AD requires compliance before further flight and does not contain a Special Flight Permit provision, the FAA will not simply issue a ferry permit to bypass the AD.
Always review the actual AD.
Can an FAA Ferry Permit Be Used Internationally?
A U.S. Special Flight Permit does not automatically authorize flight through foreign airspace.
FAA guidance explicitly notes that permission from the foreign country is still required.
International ferry flights can introduce additional requirements involving:
- Foreign aviation authorities
- Overflight permissions
- Landing permissions
- Customs
- Immigration
- Insurance
- Aircraft documentation
If the proposed ferry route crosses an international border, those requirements must be evaluated separately.
Is a Special Flight Permit the Same as a Special Flight Authorization?
No.
The terminology can be confusing.
A Special Flight Permit is the FAA airworthiness authorization discussed throughout this guide for qualifying U.S.-registered aircraft.
A Special Flight Authorization is a different FAA process that can apply to certain foreign-registered civil aircraft operating in the United States.
Aircraft owners should not use the terms interchangeably.
How Much Does a Ferry Permit Flight Cost?
There is no universal price.
The total cost can potentially involve:
mechanic evaluation, inspections, repairs needed before flight, permit coordination, ferry pilot professional fees, pilot positioning, aircraft fuel, oil, airport fees, hotel costs and ground transportation.
A simple expired-annual repositioning flight may be significantly different from moving an aircraft with a mechanical limitation several hundred miles.
The aircraft, route and required pilot determine the mission structure.
Does the FAA Charge for a Ferry Permit?
The Special Flight Permit itself should not be confused with the other expenses associated with preparing an aircraft and conducting the flight.
Even when the permit process itself does not create a significant government charge, the owner may still incur costs for:
- Maintenance inspection
- Mechanic travel
- Required repair work
- Pilot services
- Travel
- Fuel
- Hotels
- Transportation
The total mission cost should be evaluated separately from the permit application itself.
How Ferry Flight USA Helps With Ferry Permit Missions
Ferry Flight USA focuses on the operational side of moving the airplane.
That can include helping coordinate the mission around:
aircraft type, current location, destination, reason for the flight, pilot qualifications, insurance requirements, route, aircraft limitations and maintenance contacts.
We do not represent that every aircraft qualifies for an FAA Special Flight Permit.
The FAA determines whether the permit can be issued.
Once a qualifying aircraft has the necessary authorization and is appropriate for flight, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the pilot and repositioning mission.
Ferry Permit Flights for Maintenance Shops
Maintenance facilities often encounter aircraft that need to reach their shop but are located hundreds of miles away.
Ferry Flight USA can work with maintenance facilities, aircraft owners and involved pilots to coordinate qualifying repositioning flights.
Potential missions can include aircraft traveling to:
annual inspection facilities, engine shops, avionics facilities, propeller shops, structural repair facilities and specialized maintenance providers.
MAINTENANCE SHOP FERRY SERVICES
Ferry Permit Flights for Aircraft Buyers
An aircraft buyer may discover during a pre-buy or transaction that the aircraft’s inspection status or maintenance condition prevents normal delivery.
That does not automatically end the purchase.
Depending on the aircraft condition, several options may exist:
Repair it where it sits.
Move it by ground.
Have the seller complete the required maintenance.
Or, when appropriate and approved:
obtain a Special Flight Permit and move the aircraft to the selected maintenance facility.
The correct choice depends on the transaction and aircraft.
BUYING AN AIRCRAFT OUT OF STATE
Ferry Permit Checklist
Before planning a permit flight, confirm the following:
- Aircraft make, model, serial number and registration
- Aircraft location and departure airport
- Proposed destination
- Exact reason the aircraft does not meet normal airworthiness requirements
- Maintenance status
- Applicable Airworthiness Directives reviewed
- Mechanic or maintenance contact identified
- Special Flight Permit application submitted
- FAA-requested inspections or tests completed
- Permit and operating limitations received
- Qualified pilot identified
- Insurance requirements confirmed
- Route planned around aircraft condition and permit
- Aircraft physically reviewed before departure
Ferry Permit FAQ
What is a ferry permit?
A ferry permit is the common aviation term for an FAA Special Flight Permit. It may allow an aircraft that does not currently meet all applicable airworthiness requirements, but is capable of safe flight, to perform a specific authorized flight.
Can I fly my airplane to maintenance if the annual expired?
Potentially, but you generally should not simply fly an aircraft with an expired annual to another airport under normal operating authority. A Special Flight Permit may be available to reposition a qualifying aircraft to the location where the annual inspection will be completed.
Can my mechanic just sign off a ferry flight?
A mechanic can provide important aircraft-condition information and may conduct required inspections, but a maintenance logbook entry by itself is not the same thing as an FAA Special Flight Permit.
What form is used for a ferry permit?
FAA Form 8130-6 is the Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate used for Special Flight Permit applications. The FAA currently prefers applicants to use its online Airworthiness Certification system when practical.
What information does the FAA need?
The application addresses the purpose of the flight, proposed itinerary, required crew, ways the aircraft does not meet applicable airworthiness requirements, proposed safety restrictions and any other information requested by the FAA.
Who issues ferry permits?
The FAA issues Special Flight Permits through the applicable airworthiness certification process, and properly authorized designees may have authority in qualifying circumstances.
Which FAA office do I contact?
For typical general aviation Special Flight Permit cases, FAA guidance generally ties the handling office to the geographic area where the proposed flight originates.
Does a ferry permit mean the aircraft is airworthy?
No. The concept exists specifically because the aircraft may not currently meet all normal applicable airworthiness requirements. The aircraft must nevertheless be capable of safe flight for the authorized mission.
Can an unsafe aircraft receive a ferry permit?
A Special Flight Permit does not authorize unsafe operation. The FAA may require inspections or tests, and an aircraft that cannot safely complete the mission should not be flown.
Can I carry passengers?
Do not assume so. The specific permit and operating limitations determine who may be carried.
Can I use a ferry permit to ignore an AD?
No. If an applicable AD requires compliance before further flight and does not allow Special Flight Permit operation, FAA guidance says a permit generally will not be issued simply to circumvent that requirement.
Does a ferry permit let me ignore Part 91?
No. A Special Flight Permit is not general authorization to deviate from Part 91.
Can an aircraft with an expired 100-hour inspection be flown to maintenance?
The rules for a 100-hour inspection differ from an annual. Under qualifying circumstances, the 100-hour limit may be exceeded by up to 10 hours while en route to the location where the inspection will be performed, with those hours counted toward the next inspection interval. Evaluate the actual operation and inspection requirements before relying on that provision.
Can an experimental aircraft with an expired condition inspection get a ferry permit?
Potentially. FAA guidance recognizes moving certain experimental/amateur-built aircraft to a location for the required condition inspection as a common Special Flight Permit use.
Can I get a ferry permit for avionics problems?
Potentially, if the aircraft cannot meet normal operating requirements but is capable of safe flight for the proposed mission. Whether a permit is actually necessary depends on the equipment, planned flight and applicable regulations.
Can I use a ferry permit to move an aircraft to storage?
Yes, movement to an authorized storage location is one of the purposes contemplated by the Special Flight Permit regulations.
Does every aircraft delivery need a ferry permit?
No. Most ordinary aircraft delivery flights involving normally airworthy aircraft do not require a Special Flight Permit.
Can a ferry permit be used internationally?
A U.S. Special Flight Permit does not automatically grant authorization to fly through another country’s airspace. Foreign approval may also be required.
How long does it take to get a ferry permit?
There is no guaranteed universal processing time. It depends on aircraft condition, application completeness, required inspections, FAA workload and mission complexity.
Can Ferry Flight USA obtain the permit for me?
Ferry Flight USA primarily coordinates the flight operation and pilot. We can help organize information and operational planning for qualifying missions, while the owner, operator or authorized applicant remains responsible for the FAA authorization unless another specific arrangement has been established.
Need to Move an Aircraft Under a Ferry Permit?
If your aircraft:
has an expired annual, needs maintenance, has a condition that prevents normal operation or needs to reach a specialized repair facility,
Ferry Flight USA can help evaluate the operational side of the mission.
Tell us:
What aircraft is it?
Where is it located?
Where does it need to go?
Why can’t it make a normal flight?
Has a mechanic evaluated it?
Has the FAA Special Flight Permit process started?
We’ll use that information to help determine what is needed for the ferry operation.
Request a Ferry Permit Flight
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ANNUAL INSPECTION REPOSITIONING
AIRCRAFT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Ferry Flight USA
Aircraft Ferry • Special Flight Permit Missions • Maintenance Repositioning • Nationwide Service
This guide provides general educational information and is not legal, regulatory or maintenance advice. Special Flight Permit eligibility and operating limitations are determined by the FAA based on the individual aircraft and proposed operation. Aircraft and mission acceptance by Ferry Flight USA remains subject to aircraft condition, FAA authorization, applicable regulations, pilot qualifications, insurance requirements, weather, crew availability and mission requirements.