Domestic Deliveries

Domestic Deliveries

When you need your aircraft delivered within the domestic United States, you should consider hiring a professional pilot to complete the delivery or fly with you. A domestic delivery can be challenging and exciting but the United States has a wonderful range of terrain and weather which can lead to frustration and cost for a pilot not comfortable with certain flying conditions.

Airliners and Corporate Aircraft

Most of the following information regards domestic GA and single engine turboprop deliveries. If you need to reposition an airliner, multi-engine turboprop or corporate jet within the United States, I can usually help. With access to a large number of experienced flight crews I can normally refer to a suitable crew with experience and qualifications (PIC and SIC) charged at daily rates. Click the e-mail link at the foot of this page.

Flight Planning

Planning a cross country flight can be fun but time consuming. Simply pushing the GPS direct button may not be the best approach when flying cross continent. Consideration for cruising altitudes through mountainous terrain and potential icing conditions may persuade you to plan an alternative route. In certain parts of the country, there are a reduced number of airfields available to GA flights and busy airspace may require flight deviations. A professional domestic delivery pilot will ensure that the most appropriate route is taken, flying IFR to ensure safety and speed. A standard coast to coast delivery of a Cessna 172 will take 3-4 days, a Beech Baron 2-3 days and a Piper Meridian 1-2 days.

Delivery Flight Benefits

If your need to ferry within the United States results from an aircraft purchase, the ferry flight can achieve a number of useful functions. First, the long legs of a delivery will allow the ferry pilot to chart performance data and give the new owner a good brief on how the aircraft actually performs. Second, the flight will also be an opportunity for a suitably qualified pilot to test all of the equipment on board to ensure functionality. Last, if the new owner joins the ferry pilot, this is a good way to become familiar and comfortable in your new aircraft while also having the aircraft delivered. Of course, the delivery pilot can also give a flight review or instrument proficiency check during the flight saving you time and money in the future.

Weather

The primary reason an owner employs the services of a domestic delivery pilot is to protect against weather delays. I certainly teach and encourage a cautious approach to flying GA aircraft in poor weather. However when you employ a professional pilot you are employing experience which will allow the flight to continue in conditions some less experienced IFR pilots may prefer to avoid. Similar to oceanic deliveries, a domestic ferry pilot should never be penalized for a 'late' delivery. Delivery times should be taken as guidance only. Safety and the decision of the pilot must always dictate the delivery schedule. Good communication between an owner and the ferry pilot will ensure a successful and enjoyable delivery.

Insurance

Most insurance policies cover flight instructors. You should ensure that your domestic delivery pilot is at least a CFI with delivery experience. You should certainly ensure that your delivery pilot has a good amount of actual IFR time, not just an IFR certificate when they fly your aircraft and poor weather is expected. For unusual types such as single engine turboprops, you will need to select the most appropriate delivery pilot with time in that type of aircraft. Usually, a good choice would be an oceanic delivery pilot. Many domestic delivery pilots are also oceanic delivery pilots and so would have flown a large number of aircraft types, piston and turboprop.

Costs

If the owner is able to fly along, a standard daily rate would be paid to the ferry pilot. All fuel, accommodation and en-route charges would be paid by the owner direct. The owner will then simply cover the ferry pilot airfare. Figure on these costs for an experienced delivery pilot:-

$250 per day for a single engine piston ferry pilot

$250 per day for a multi engine piston ferry pilot

$300 per day for a single engine turboprop pilot

$350 per day for a multi engine turboprop pilot

$450 per day for a corporate jet pilot ($200 SIC)

$550 per day for a regional jet pilot ($300 SIC)

If the owner simply needs the aircraft delivered, an inclusive quotation can be prepared to include the crew costs plus the other costs required to successfully deliver the aircraft:-

All fuel and oil required for the delivery

Accommodation, food and airfare

Flight planning, airport/handling charges, flight paperwork

Additional ferry tanks where necessary

Insurance (usually cheaper for the owner to pay direct)

Aircraft Delivery Management

I hope that this information is useful. Although working for the airlines, I continue to manage deliveries for owners and brokers who know they will receive the most professional service. I still continue to fly most domestic deliveries myself but when required I only refer and employ experienced delivery pilots and crews who have a proven ferry record. If you would like help with your delivery - big or small - kindly use the e-mail address below for your first contact.

For more information, kindly e-mail Steve Randall steve@ferryflight.info