Found the aircraft you want to buy—but want it inspected somewhere else before closing?
Ferry Flight USA provides professional pre-buy inspection repositioning throughout the United States, helping aircraft buyers, sellers, brokers and dealers move aircraft to independent maintenance facilities for pre-purchase evaluation.
Whether the buyer wants the airplane inspected 50 miles away or several states from the seller’s airport, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the pilot, aircraft pickup, repositioning flight and delivery to the selected inspection facility.
Depending on the transaction, we can also help coordinate the aircraft’s next movement after the inspection:
Back to the seller
To another maintenance facility
To the buyer after closing
To an avionics shop
To a paint facility
To the buyer’s home airport
Our network supports qualifying:
Piston singles
Piston twins
Complex aircraft
High-performance aircraft
Selected turbine aircraft
Selected business aircraft
Pilot assignment depends on aircraft type, pilot qualifications, insurance requirements and mission details.
REQUEST A PRE-BUY REPOSITIONING QUOTE
Pre-buy inspection repositioning is the movement of an aircraft from its current location to another airport or maintenance facility so a prospective buyer can have the aircraft independently evaluated before purchase.
The buyer may want the aircraft moved because:
The seller’s mechanic should not perform the buyer’s inspection
The buyer has a trusted A&P or IA
The aircraft requires make-and-model expertise
The preferred inspection facility is at another airport
A manufacturer service center is preferred
The buyer wants a neutral third-party evaluation
The aircraft needs specialized engine, structural or avionics evaluation
Ferry Flight USA handles the transportation portion of that process.
The best inspection facility is not always located where the aircraft is being sold.
For a significant aircraft purchase, buyers often want an independent facility that understands the make and model.
That may mean using:
A Piper specialist
A Cessna specialist
A Beechcraft specialist
A Cirrus service center
A Mooney specialist
An Aerostar specialist
A Twin Cessna specialist
A turbine service center
A manufacturer-authorized facility
A mechanic already trusted by the buyer
A pre-buy inspection can materially affect a transaction, so choosing the right facility may matter more than choosing the closest facility.
These are not necessarily the same thing.
A pre-purchase inspection is generally performed for the buyer’s benefit to help evaluate the condition, records and potential risks associated with an aircraft purchase.
Unlike an annual inspection, there is no single FAA-defined pre-buy checklist that automatically applies to every aircraft transaction. The scope should be agreed upon by the buyer and inspection provider.
A buyer may request:
Logbook review
Airframe inspection
Engine inspection
Compression checks
Borescope inspection
Corrosion inspection
Landing-gear inspection
Propeller inspection
Avionics evaluation
AD compliance review
Damage-history review
Records review
Aircraft-specific inspections
The actual scope depends on the aircraft and the buyer’s requirements.
Many buyers prefer an inspection provider who is independent from the seller.
The purpose is simple:
The buyer wants information that helps support an informed purchase decision.
An independent inspection can help identify:
Deferred maintenance
Upcoming expenses
Corrosion
Damage history
Engine concerns
Structural issues
Logbook gaps
Airworthiness Directive concerns
Aging components
Avionics issues
Maintenance discrepancies
The results may affect:
Purchase price
Repair negotiations
Closing timing
Escrow terms
Whether the buyer proceeds with the transaction at all
A seller may understandably prefer that the aircraft remain at its current airport.
But buyers may want a shop with specific expertise.
Professional repositioning gives both parties another option.
The aircraft can potentially be moved from:
Seller’s Airport → Independent Pre-Buy Facility
Afterward, it can move:
Pre-Buy Facility → Seller
or, if the purchase closes:
Pre-Buy Facility → Buyer’s Home Airport
This can make the transaction more efficient.
The buyer is often the party most interested in selecting the inspection facility.
You may want the aircraft moved because:
Your mechanic knows the aircraft type
You want a neutral shop
The aircraft is uncommon
You are buying remotely
You cannot personally attend the inspection
The seller’s local maintenance options are limited
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the aircraft movement while you focus on the purchase decision.
A seller may also benefit from professional repositioning.
Instead of personally flying the aircraft to the buyer’s chosen inspection facility, the seller can authorize an appropriately qualified ferry pilot to perform the flight.
That can reduce:
Seller travel
Scheduling conflicts
Time away from work
Transportation problems
Overnight travel
The seller remains free to focus on the transaction rather than the logistics of moving the airplane.
Aircraft brokers routinely manage transactions involving buyers and sellers located in different parts of the country.
A buyer may request a pre-buy facility hundreds of miles from the aircraft.
Ferry Flight USA can support brokers with:
Aircraft pickup
Pre-buy repositioning
Shop delivery
Post-inspection repositioning
Buyer delivery after closing
Maintenance repositioning if discrepancies are identified
Having a transportation solution can help keep the transaction moving.
Dealership inventory may also need to move for an independent buyer inspection.
A buyer may request:
Another service center
Manufacturer specialist
Independent A&P/IA
Engine specialist
Avionics evaluation
Rather than tying up dealership personnel, Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the aircraft movement.
One important difference between pre-buy repositioning and normal post-purchase delivery is ownership.
During a pre-buy, the seller may still own the aircraft.
That means the ferry flight should be carefully coordinated with:
Seller authorization
Buyer requirements
Insurance
Purchase agreement terms
Escrow requirements
Aircraft access
Inspection-shop scheduling
The parties should have a clear agreement about who is authorized to move the aircraft and under what conditions.
Generally, the current aircraft owner or appropriately authorized party must agree to the aircraft’s movement.
A prospective buyer should not assume that entering into a purchase agreement automatically gives them unrestricted authority to move the seller’s aircraft.
The purchase agreement should clearly address issues such as:
Whether the aircraft may be repositioned
Where it may be taken
Who chooses the pilot
Who pays the cost
Who pays fuel and expenses
Who bears certain risks
Who maintains insurance
What happens after the inspection
Ferry Flight USA handles the flight operation, but the transaction parties should establish the legal and contractual authority for the move.
That depends on the transaction.
Common arrangements may include:
Buyer pays
Seller pays
Buyer and seller split the cost
Broker or dealer includes repositioning in the transaction
Because the buyer is often requesting the independent inspection location, the buyer may agree to pay the transportation expense.
But there is no universal rule.
The purchase agreement should make responsibility clear.
The parties should also establish responsibility for operating expenses.
Potential expenses can include:
Fuel
Oil
Ramp fees
Landing fees
Parking
Pilot fee
Airline positioning
Rental vehicle
Hotel
Return transportation
The mission agreement should identify how applicable ferry costs will be handled.
There are several possible outcomes.
This is the best-case scenario.
Instead of returning the aircraft to the seller, it may be possible to complete closing while the airplane remains at the inspection facility.
Then Ferry Flight USA can potentially deliver it directly to the buyer.
Pre-Buy Facility → Buyer’s Home Airport
This eliminates an unnecessary flight back to the seller.
The parties may negotiate maintenance before closing or delivery.
The aircraft may remain at:
The pre-buy facility
Another maintenance shop
An engine specialist
An avionics shop
Once the work is completed and the transaction closes, Ferry Flight USA can coordinate delivery.
Sometimes a pre-buy reveals issues that cause the buyer not to proceed.
The aircraft may then need to be returned:
Inspection Facility → Seller’s Airport
Ferry Flight USA can coordinate the return repositioning if requested.
The inspection may reveal a concern that requires evaluation elsewhere.
The airplane may need to move to:
An engine shop
Structural specialist
Avionics shop
Manufacturer service center
Propeller shop
A multi-leg repositioning plan can potentially be coordinated.
One of the most efficient transaction structures can be:
Seller → Pre-Buy Inspection → Closing → Buyer
Instead of:
Seller → Pre-Buy → Seller → Buyer
The first structure can eliminate an entire positioning leg.
Whether that is possible depends on:
Purchase agreement
Seller approval
Closing logistics
Insurance
Aircraft readiness
Shop scheduling
When practical, planning the ferry mission early can reduce unnecessary aircraft movement.
EXPLORE NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT DELIVERY
If the pre-buy identifies discrepancies that the parties agree should be corrected, the aircraft may need to remain at the inspection facility or be moved elsewhere.
Possible work includes:
Engine repairs
Cylinder replacement
Exhaust repair
Brake work
Tire replacement
Fuel-system repair
Electrical repairs
Structural work
Corrosion treatment
Propeller work
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate qualifying additional repositioning legs.
EXPLORE MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHTS
Some buyers purchase mechanically sound aircraft with outdated avionics.
After the pre-buy and closing, the aircraft might go directly to an avionics facility for:
Garmin upgrades
GPS installation
Autopilot
Glass panel
ADS-B
Engine monitor
Radios
This can be much more efficient than delivering the aircraft home first.
EXPLORE AVIONICS SHOP FERRY FLIGHTS
A buyer may also purchase an aircraft with excellent mechanical condition but poor cosmetics.
The aircraft can potentially move:
Pre-Buy Facility → Paint Shop → Buyer’s Home Airport
This allows the new owner to complete the acquisition and refurbishment process efficiently.
EXPLORE PAINT SHOP FERRY FLIGHTS
Qualifying repositioning missions can involve aircraft such as:
Cessna 150
Cessna 152
Cessna 172
Cessna 182
Cessna 206
Piper Cherokee
Piper Warrior
Piper Archer
Piper Arrow
Piper Saratoga
Cirrus SR20
Cirrus SR22
Beechcraft Bonanza
Mooney
Diamond DA40
For common general aviation aircraft, finding a mechanic with strong make-and-model experience can significantly improve the usefulness of the inspection.
Pre-buy inspections can be especially important for older and more complex piston twins.
Qualifying aircraft may include:
Piper Seminole
Piper Seneca
Piper Apache
Piper Aztec
Beechcraft Baron
Cessna 310
Cessna 340
Cessna 414
Cessna 421
Diamond DA42
Aerostar models
These aircraft can have complex:
Engines
Turbocharging systems
Fuel systems
Landing gear
Pressurization
Electrical systems
Deicing equipment
Using an experienced inspection facility may justify repositioning the aircraft a significant distance.
Higher-value aircraft transactions may involve even more structured pre-purchase evaluations.
Depending on aircraft type, buyers may use:
Manufacturer service centers
Authorized maintenance facilities
Type-specific specialists
MRO organizations
Industry providers market pre-purchase evaluation programs specifically around keeping aircraft transactions moving efficiently, which reinforces how important inspection timing can be in a sale.
Ferry Flight USA can evaluate selected turbine and business-aircraft repositioning missions based on aircraft type, crew requirements and insurance.
The goal of the inspection is not simply to create a list of cosmetic squawks.
The buyer wants to better understand the aircraft they may be purchasing.
A strong inspection may help answer questions such as:
What major maintenance is approaching?
Is there evidence of corrosion?
Are aircraft records complete?
Is there significant damage history?
Are major components nearing overhaul?
Are there expensive discrepancies?
Does the aircraft appear consistent with how it was represented?
A records-first review can also help focus the physical inspection on areas suggested by logbooks, repairs, AD history and previous maintenance.
That is a decision for the buyer, seller and inspection provider based on the aircraft, timing and scope of work.
A pre-buy and an annual are not automatically interchangeable.
However, in some transactions, the parties may decide that completing an annual inspection as part of the process makes sense.
If that occurs, the maintenance provider should explain the required scope and documentation.
Ferry Flight USA’s role remains aircraft transportation.
EXPLORE ANNUAL INSPECTION REPOSITIONING
An aircraft cannot simply be ferried because a buyer wants it inspected somewhere else.
If known discrepancies make the aircraft inappropriate or illegal for normal operation, those issues must be addressed before departure.
Depending on the circumstances, an FAA Special Flight Permit may potentially be relevant for a qualifying maintenance-related flight.
However, a ferry permit is not automatically available for every pre-buy situation.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FERRY PERMIT FLIGHTS
Provide:
Aircraft make
Aircraft model
N-number
Seller’s airport
Pre-buy inspection airport
Expected inspection date
Aircraft status
Buyer or broker contact
Seller contact as appropriate
Insurance requirements if known
Because the seller often still owns the airplane, the parties should confirm:
Seller authorization
Purchase agreement terms
Insurance
Aircraft access
Pickup timing
Pilot selection may depend on:
Aircraft category
Aircraft class
Complex-aircraft requirements
High-performance requirements
Tailwheel requirements
Multi-engine requirements
Pressurization
Turbine operation
Type rating
Insurance requirements
Useful information may include:
Shop contact
Airport
Appointment date
Arrival instructions
Parking location
Hangar location
Shop hours
Key handoff
The pilot plans the repositioning based on:
Weather
Distance
Fuel
Aircraft range
Airspace
Terrain
Airport suitability
Aircraft status
The aircraft is delivered according to the agreed instructions.
The buyer’s chosen maintenance provider performs the agreed inspection.
Ferry Flight USA does not control the scope, findings or outcome of that evaluation.
Depending on the inspection and transaction, the aircraft may:
Return to the seller
Remain for repairs
Move to another shop
Close at the inspection location
Be delivered to the buyer
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the next qualifying flight.
Pricing depends on the specific mission.
Factors can include:
Aircraft type
Distance
Aircraft cruise speed
Aircraft range
Pilot fee
Pilot travel
Number of flight days
Airline positioning
Ground transportation
Hotels
Insurance requirements
Crew requirements
Weather
A short repositioning flight to a nearby inspection facility will cost far less than moving a complex twin several states away.
Ferry Flight USA provides mission-specific pricing.
VIEW THE AIRCRAFT FERRY COST GUIDE
Insurance can be more complicated before closing because the seller may still own the aircraft.
The applicable policy may establish requirements involving:
Who may operate the airplane
Pilot certificates
Total flight time
Make-and-model time
Complex experience
Multi-engine experience
Turbine experience
Type ratings
Named-pilot approval
Insurance requirements should be confirmed before the aircraft moves.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AIRCRAFT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying aircraft pre-purchase inspection repositioning throughout the United States.
Missions can include:
Florida aircraft moved for inspection
California aircraft moved to buyer-selected facilities
Texas aircraft repositioned for pre-buy
Northeast aircraft moved to specialty shops
Midwest aircraft repositioned before closing
Cross-country transaction support
The aircraft market is national.
Your inspection options can be too.
If you are considering spending:
$100,000
$250,000
$500,000
$1 million
Or considerably more
on an aircraft, saving a positioning flight may not be the most important consideration.
A buyer may be better served by selecting the facility they trust and solving the transportation separately.
We coordinate qualifying pre-buy inspection repositioning across the United States.
These flights often involve multiple parties, and we help organize the physical aircraft movement.
Pilot selection is based on aircraft qualifications and applicable insurance requirements.
The aircraft can potentially return to the seller, remain for maintenance or continue to the buyer after closing.
Multiple ferry legs can potentially be incorporated into the transaction plan.
Inspection deadlines and closing schedules do not override safe and legal flight decisions.
Can you ferry an aircraft to a pre-buy inspection?
Yes. Ferry Flight USA coordinates qualifying aircraft repositioning flights to buyer-selected pre-purchase inspection facilities.
Can the buyer choose the inspection facility?
That depends on the purchase agreement and seller’s authorization, but buyers frequently request an independent inspection provider.
Who pays to move the aircraft for the pre-buy?
It depends on the transaction. Buyer, seller or both parties may agree to pay the ferry cost.
Does the seller have to approve the ferry flight?
If the seller still owns the aircraft, proper authorization to move the aircraft should be established before the flight.
Can the aircraft stay at the inspection facility after closing?
Potentially, yes. This can allow the aircraft to be delivered directly to the buyer rather than returning to the seller first.
Can you return the aircraft if the buyer does not purchase it?
Yes. A return repositioning flight can potentially be coordinated.
Can you move the aircraft to another maintenance shop after the pre-buy?
Yes, if additional maintenance or specialty evaluation is required and the aircraft is appropriate for the proposed flight.
Do you perform the pre-buy inspection?
Ferry Flight USA’s service on this page is aircraft transportation and repositioning. The inspection itself should be performed by the buyer’s selected qualified maintenance provider.
Is a pre-buy inspection the same as an annual?
No. A pre-buy is buyer-defined and does not automatically satisfy the requirements of an annual inspection.
Can you move a piston twin for a pre-buy inspection?
Yes, when an appropriately rated and qualified pilot satisfying applicable insurance requirements is available.
Can you move a business aircraft to a pre-purchase evaluation?
Selected business-aircraft missions can be evaluated based on aircraft type, crew, insurance and other mission requirements.
How much does pre-buy repositioning cost?
Cost depends on aircraft type, distance, pilot requirements, travel expenses and mission duration.
What information do you need for a quote?
Provide the aircraft make and model, N-number, current airport, inspection facility airport, inspection date, aircraft status and appropriate buyer, seller or broker contact information.
Do not let the seller’s airport determine where you inspect a major aircraft purchase.
Whether your preferred inspection facility is:
One airport away
Across the state
Several states away
At a specialized aircraft service center
Ferry Flight USA can help coordinate the aircraft movement.
What aircraft are you considering?
Where is it located?
Where do you want the pre-buy performed?
When is the inspection scheduled?
We’ll use that information to evaluate the route, pilot requirements, transaction logistics and expected ferry cost.
