You found the airplane.
You negotiated the deal.
The pre-buy is complete.
The paperwork is signed.
Now there is one final question:
Ferry Flight USA provides newly purchased aircraft delivery services throughout the United States, helping aircraft buyers move recently acquired airplanes from the seller, broker, dealer or closing location to the buyer’s home airport.
Whether your new aircraft is 200 miles away or on the opposite side of the country, we can help coordinate the pilot, pickup, route planning and delivery.
Our network supports qualifying:
Piston single-engine aircraft
Piston twins
Complex aircraft
High-performance aircraft
Selected turbine aircraft
Selected light and midsize business jets
Pilot assignment depends on the aircraft, required certificates and ratings, experience requirements, insurance requirements and mission details.
GET A NEW AIRCRAFT DELIVERY QUOTE
This is one of the first logistical questions many aircraft buyers face after purchasing an airplane outside their local area.
The aircraft market is nationwide.
The right airplane may be located in:
Florida
California
Texas
Arizona
Colorado
Tennessee
Georgia
North Carolina
New York
Ohio
The Midwest
The Northeast
The West Coast
Or virtually anywhere else in the United States
You may find the perfect aircraft 1,500 miles from your home airport.
That does not mean you have to personally make the delivery flight.
A professional ferry pilot can travel to the aircraft, coordinate pickup and fly the airplane to your requested destination.
Ferry Flight USA helps organize that process.
Purchasing an aircraft and delivering an aircraft are two separate parts of the transaction.
The purchase may involve:
Aircraft search
Offer and negotiation
Purchase agreement
Deposit
Pre-purchase inspection
Title search
Escrow
Financing
Insurance
Closing
Once ownership changes, the aircraft still has to physically move.
That is where aircraft purchase delivery begins.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the movement of the aircraft from its current location to:
Your home airport
Your new hangar
Your flight school
Your flying club
Your aircraft management company
A maintenance facility
An avionics shop
Another airport selected by the buyer
Buying an airplane does not automatically mean that flying it across the country yourself is the best first mission.
There are several reasons buyers hire professional ferry pilots.
Your new insurance policy may require specific pilot experience.
Depending on the aircraft, requirements could involve:
Total flight time
Time in category and class
Time in make and model
Complex aircraft experience
Retractable-gear experience
High-performance experience
Multi-engine time
Turbine experience
Recurrent training
Type rating
Dual instruction
Named-pilot approval
You may own the airplane but not yet qualify to fly it solo under your insurance policy.
A properly qualified ferry pilot can potentially provide the solution.
Perhaps you purchased your first:
Retractable-gear airplane
High-performance aircraft
Multi-engine airplane
Pressurized aircraft
Cirrus
Bonanza
Baron
Mooney
Twin Cessna
Aerostar
Turbine aircraft
Your first experience in a new aircraft does not necessarily need to be a 1,500-mile cross-country flight through unfamiliar weather and airports.
Picking up an aircraft several states away can require:
Commercial airfare
Rental car or ground transportation
Hotel accommodations
A full day of travel before the flight begins
One or more days flying home
Weather delays
Fuel stops
Another hotel during the trip
For a busy owner, the time commitment may be more valuable than the cost of professional delivery.
The airplane you want does not care where you live.
A Florida buyer might find the right aircraft in California.
A California buyer might purchase an airplane in Texas.
A Texas buyer might find a unique aircraft in New England.
A professional aircraft ferry service makes the national aircraft market much easier to shop.
Buying an aircraft outside your home state is extremely common.
Aircraft inventory is limited compared with automobiles, boats and many other assets.
A buyer searching for a particular:
Make
Model
Year
Engine time
Avionics package
Paint condition
Interior
Maintenance history
Equipment configuration
Price range
may need to search nationwide.
That means the best aircraft may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Ferry Flight USA helps remove geography from the purchase decision.
REQUEST A NEW AIRCRAFT PURCHASE DELIVERY QUOTE
Piston aircraft make up a significant portion of owner-flown aircraft transactions.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate qualifying purchase-delivery missions involving aircraft from manufacturers such as:
Cessna
Piper
Beechcraft
Cirrus
Mooney
Diamond
Grumman
Tecnam
Maule
American Champion
Common aircraft may include:
Cessna 150
Cessna 152
Cessna 172
Cessna 182
Cessna 206
Piper Cherokee
Piper Warrior
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Piper Dakota
Piper Saratoga
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR22
Beechcraft Bonanza
Mooney models
Diamond DA40
Explore Piston Single Aircraft Ferry Services
Buying your first twin creates additional delivery considerations.
Multi-engine aircraft may involve:
Higher insurance requirements
Make-and-model experience requirements
Complex systems
Retractable landing gear
Higher fuel burn
More detailed fuel planning
Pressurization
Turbocharging
Aircraft-specific operating knowledge
Qualifying aircraft may include:
Piper Seminole
Piper Seneca
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Beechcraft Baron
Beechcraft Travel Air
Cessna 310
Cessna 340
Cessna 414
Cessna 421
Diamond DA42
Aerostar models
A qualified ferry pilot can help simplify the transition between purchase and arrival at your home airport.
Explore Piston Twin Ferry Services
Some aircraft purchases require pilots with substantially more specialized qualifications.
Selected turbine and business aircraft delivery missions may require:
Type-rated pilots
Two-pilot crews
Turbine experience
Recurrent training
Operator-specific requirements
Insurance approval
Aircraft-specific training
Ferry Flight USA can evaluate selected light and midsize business aircraft delivery missions based on aircraft type, crew requirements and pilot availability.
Our goal is to make the physical part of the aircraft transaction straightforward.
The aircraft may currently be located at:
The seller’s home airport
A broker’s facility
A dealership
An aircraft maintenance shop
A pre-buy inspection facility
A paint shop
An avionics facility
An FBO
A storage facility
The delivery destination may be:
Your home airport
Your hangar
Your flight school
Your flying club
Your maintenance facility
Your aircraft manager
Another destination selected during the transaction
Start by providing:
Aircraft make
Aircraft model
Aircraft registration number
Current airport
Destination airport
Expected closing date
Desired delivery date
Aircraft maintenance status
Known insurance requirements
Any special circumstances
You can contact us before or after closing.
In many cases, planning before closing makes the eventual delivery easier.
Every ferry flight is different.
We review factors such as:
Aircraft category
Aircraft class
Complexity
Performance
Distance
Route
Required ratings
Required endorsements
Make-and-model requirements
Insurance requirements
Pilot availability
Crew requirements
The goal is to identify an appropriately qualified pilot for the aircraft.
Insurance is especially important after an aircraft purchase.
Your policy may establish minimum pilot requirements that must be met before anyone operates the aircraft.
These requirements can include:
Pilot certificate
Instrument rating
Total time
Time in category
Time in class
Make-and-model time
Multi-engine experience
Retractable-gear time
Turbine experience
Training requirements
Named-pilot approval
The ferry pilot must satisfy the requirements applicable to the mission.
Learn More About Aircraft Insurance Requirements
Pickup coordination may involve:
Seller
Buyer
Aircraft broker
Dealer
Escrow company
Maintenance facility
FBO
Aircraft manager
Airport personnel
Typical details include:
Aircraft access
Keys
Aircraft location
Fuel status
Documents
Aircraft equipment
Departure instructions
Airport access
Destination instructions
Good communication before the pilot arrives reduces delays.
A newly purchased aircraft still needs to be ready for flight.
The pilot performs the normal preflight responsibilities associated with operating the aircraft.
The owner and appropriate transaction parties should also ensure that applicable documentation, airworthiness requirements, maintenance status and insurance are properly addressed before departure.
If the aircraft is not ready for normal operation, additional maintenance or regulatory requirements may need to be resolved before delivery.
Long-distance aircraft delivery is not simply about flying the shortest geographic line.
Planning may consider:
Weather
Aircraft range
Fuel availability
Terrain
Mountains
Airspace
Airport suitability
Runway requirements
Aircraft performance
Winds
Daylight
Overnight locations
Maintenance support
The ideal route depends on the aircraft and conditions.
Once the aircraft and mission are ready, the ferry pilot begins the delivery flight.
The aircraft may require:
One nonstop flight
Several fuel stops
An overnight stop
Multiple flight days
Weather or mechanical issues can change the schedule.
The goal is not simply to arrive as fast as possible.
The goal is to complete the aircraft delivery professionally and safely.
At the destination, the aircraft is handed over according to the agreed arrangements.
For many buyers, this is the best part of the entire transaction:
Possibly, depending on the mission.
Some buyers may want to accompany the pilot during the delivery.
Others prefer to have the airplane delivered without traveling.
Whether the buyer can be onboard depends on factors that may include:
Aircraft configuration
Weight and balance
Insurance
Pilot qualifications
Mission agreement
Aircraft condition
Operating considerations
Any plan for the owner to accompany the flight should be discussed before the mission is scheduled.
Potentially—but flight instruction is different from a standard ferry mission.
If the pilot is also an appropriately certificated flight instructor and the arrangement has been established in advance, some aircraft owners may choose to incorporate transition or familiarization training into the aircraft pickup process.
This can be particularly attractive for buyers transitioning into:
Complex aircraft
High-performance aircraft
Retractable-gear aircraft
New avionics systems
A new make or model
Training availability depends on the pilot, aircraft, insurance requirements and mission.
If you want instruction combined with the delivery, tell us when requesting your quote.
It depends on the transaction.
Planning the ferry mission before closing can be useful because:
Pilot availability can be coordinated
Insurance requirements can be reviewed
Travel can be planned
The seller knows when the aircraft will leave
Hangar or parking arrangements can be made
Weather can be monitored
Delivery expectations can be established
However, the flight itself should not occur until the transaction and aircraft are properly ready for delivery.
That is often convenient.
If the aircraft has completed its pre-purchase inspection and closing occurs while it is at the inspection facility, the ferry pilot may be able to pick it up directly from that airport.
This may eliminate an unnecessary repositioning flight back to the seller’s original airport.
Learn More About Pre-Buy Inspection Repositioning
This is another common situation.
A pre-purchase inspection may identify maintenance items that the buyer and seller agree to address before closing or delivery.
The aircraft should be appropriately ready and legal for the intended flight before departure.
Depending on the situation, the delivery may begin directly from the maintenance facility after the applicable work is completed.
Certain aircraft may require special handling if they do not currently meet normal airworthiness requirements.
Under qualifying circumstances, an FAA Special Flight Permit—often called a ferry permit—may allow an aircraft to be moved to a location where maintenance or inspection can be performed.
A ferry permit is not automatically available simply because someone wants to move an aircraft.
The particular aircraft and circumstances need to qualify.
Learn More About Ferry Permit Flights
The cost depends on the mission.
Variables can include:
Aircraft type
Departure location
Destination
Total distance
Aircraft speed
Aircraft range
Pilot requirements
Number of flight days
Pilot positioning
Airline tickets
Ground transportation
Hotels
Fuel stops
Second pilot requirements
Insurance requirements
Weather
For example:
A Cessna 172 purchased 300 miles from home has a very different delivery profile from a Beechcraft Baron purchased 1,800 miles away.
A Cirrus SR22 crossing the country has different planning requirements from a Piper Cub.
A pressurized twin creates different pilot and insurance requirements from a Cherokee.
That is why Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific aircraft delivery quotes.
SEE OUR AIRCRAFT FERRY COST GUIDE
The financial arrangement should be established before the mission.
Aircraft operating costs during the delivery may include:
Fuel
Oil
Ramp fees
Landing fees
Parking
Other aircraft-related expenses
Pilot-related expenses may include:
Airline airfare
Rental car
Ground transportation
Hotel
Return travel
Your quote or mission agreement should clearly identify how these expenses will be handled.
Delivery time depends on:
Distance
Aircraft cruise speed
Aircraft range
Weather
Winds
Terrain
Fuel stops
Maintenance
Pilot availability
Seasonal conditions
A regional aircraft delivery may be completed in a single day.
A cross-country aircraft purchase delivery may require multiple days.
Weather can also change the schedule.
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate qualifying aircraft delivery missions across the United States.
Examples might include:
California to Florida
Florida to California
Texas to Florida
Florida to Texas
Arizona to Florida
California to Texas
Northeast to Florida
Florida to New York
Midwest to Florida
Mountain West to the East Coast
Buying an aircraft across the country should not automatically eliminate it from consideration simply because of geography.
This is one of the biggest advantages of professional aircraft delivery.
Without delivery support, buyers may limit their search to aircraft they can easily reach.
That could mean passing on an airplane with:
Better maintenance history
Better avionics
Lower engine time
Better paint
Better interior
More desirable equipment
A more competitive price
When professional aircraft delivery is part of your acquisition plan, your search can become nationwide.
One of the best times to start arranging aircraft delivery is while the purchase is moving toward closing.
Before closing, consider:
Where is the aircraft physically located?
Is the pre-buy complete?
Are all agreed maintenance items finished?
When will ownership transfer?
When will insurance become effective?
Does the ferry pilot meet the insurance requirements?
Is the aircraft ready to depart?
Where will the aircraft be delivered?
Is hangar or parking space available?
Who has the keys?
Who will meet the pilot?
Are the aircraft documents available?
Thinking through these items ahead of time can make delivery day much easier.
VIEW THE AIRCRAFT PRE-DELIVERY CHECKLIST
First-time aircraft ownership is exciting, but there are a lot of moving pieces.
The purchase itself may involve:
Aircraft selection
Broker
Pre-buy inspection
Financing
Insurance
Title and escrow
Maintenance
Registration
Training
Hangar space
Aircraft delivery
The ferry flight is only one part of the process, but it is an important final step.
Ferry Flight USA can help you solve the transportation piece so you can focus on becoming familiar with your new aircraft.
READ: BUYING AN AIRCRAFT OUT OF STATE
Your aircraft purchase is not limited to your local market.
We coordinate qualifying aircraft delivery missions throughout the United States.
Different aircraft require different pilot experience.
The pilot must be appropriate for the aircraft, mission and applicable insurance requirements.
A newly purchased aircraft may involve communication between multiple parties.
We can coordinate with the appropriate seller, broker, dealer, shop or airport representatives involved with the pickup.
Long-distance ferry missions can involve weather, terrain, fuel stops and overnight planning.
We support qualifying piston singles, piston twins and selected business aircraft.
Aircraft owners should know where their airplane is and how the mission is progressing.
A delivery schedule never overrides the pilot’s responsibility to make appropriate operational decisions.
I just bought an airplane in another state. How do I get it home?
You can hire a qualified aircraft ferry pilot to travel to the airplane and fly it to your home airport. Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the pilot, pickup and delivery for qualifying aircraft throughout the United States.
Should I arrange the ferry pilot before closing?
You can. In many cases, coordinating delivery before closing helps with pilot scheduling, insurance review and travel planning. The aircraft should not depart until the transaction and aircraft are properly ready.
Can the seller arrange the aircraft delivery?
Yes. Aircraft delivery can be coordinated by either the buyer, seller, broker or dealer depending on the transaction.
Can you pick up an aircraft directly from the broker or dealer?
Yes. Aircraft can potentially be picked up from the seller, broker, dealership, maintenance shop, pre-buy facility or another agreed airport.
What if I don’t meet my insurance requirements yet?
A qualified ferry pilot may be able to perform the delivery if the pilot satisfies the applicable insurance requirements. Your insurer or broker should confirm those requirements.
Can I fly home with the ferry pilot?
Possibly. Whether the owner accompanies the flight depends on aircraft limitations, insurance, weight and balance, pilot arrangements and mission details.
Can I receive flight instruction during the delivery?
Possibly, when arranged in advance with an appropriately certificated and qualified flight instructor and when permitted by the applicable insurance and operating requirements.
Do you deliver Cessna aircraft?
Qualifying Cessna purchase-delivery missions can be supported, including common piston models such as the Cessna 150, 152, 172, 182 and 206, as well as qualifying twin models.
Do you deliver Piper aircraft?
Yes, qualifying Piper aircraft may include Cherokee, Warrior, Archer, Arrow, Dakota, Saratoga, Seminole, Seneca, Apache, Aztec and other models.
Do you deliver Cirrus aircraft?
Qualifying Cirrus SR20 and SR22 delivery missions can be evaluated based on pilot qualifications, aircraft requirements and insurance.
Can you deliver a newly purchased twin-engine airplane?
Yes, qualifying piston twin deliveries can be coordinated when an appropriately rated and experienced pilot satisfying the required insurance criteria is available.
How much does aircraft purchase delivery cost?
Cost depends on aircraft type, distance, pilot requirements, travel expenses, expected number of flight days and other mission-specific factors. Request a quote using the actual aircraft and route for the most useful estimate.
What happens if weather delays my aircraft delivery?
The schedule may change. Aircraft delivery flights are subject to weather and other operational considerations. The pilot will not sacrifice safe decision-making to meet an arbitrary delivery deadline.
Can you deliver an aircraft coast to coast?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA can coordinate qualifying long-distance and coast-to-coast newly purchased aircraft deliveries throughout the United States.
Do not let the location of an aircraft prevent you from buying the airplane that best fits your mission.
Whether your new airplane is one state away or on the opposite side of the country, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate professional delivery to your home airport.
What did you buy?
Where is the aircraft?
Where is your home airport?
When is the expected closing date?
We’ll use that information to evaluate the mission, pilot requirements, expected route and aircraft delivery cost.
