International Deliveries

International Deliveries

Delivering aircraft internationally can be a very difficult and costly process unless you use the services of an experienced ferry pilot or company. The information presented here is not intended to be used to help you deliver your own aircraft but to encourage you to seek the services of an appropriately experienced pilot. This will ultimately save you time, money and worry.

Aircraft Performance

Planning an international delivery takes time and care. Of course, the first thing to establish is the aircraft range. The aircraft manual has a range chart but that is not usually the place to look. I would rather speak to the previous operator and establish a known speed against fuel burn. Usually, the actual performance numbers will differ from the operating handbook, which reflects the performance of the aircraft brand new from the factory. This small difference is usually insignificant when flying for 1-2 hours. However, as the leg length increases and the contingencies decrease, the difference is more significant and can actually change the planned oceanic route or determine the need for extra ferry tanks. If known performance is not available, I will use the book number plus a good buffer. Most oceanic legs are preceded by a long overland leg enabling the ferry pilot to accurately establish performance prior to crossing.

Ferry Tanks

Most smaller GA piston aircraft will require some additional tanking to make the oceanic crossing. Many turboprop aircraft can be flown without tanks at most times of the year. However, tanks will be required for turboprop aircraft when delivered to places such as Australia. Almost all jet aircraft can be delivered without tanks but with some adjustments to the route. Just as you would never think to employ an inexperienced delivery pilot, you must never have an inexperienced maintenance shop install ferry tanks. The tanks themselves have to be specially built and pressure tested. The installation must be performed by an experienced mechanic who knows how to prepare the breather hoses correctly based on the route to be flown. Appropriate back-up valves and selectors must also be installed and thoroughly briefed and tested by the ferry pilot. The FAA will issue a Permit To Fly (pink slip) once the inspection is completed. Certified ferry tanks cost between $300-600 each plus installation and certification. The tanks will usually be removed prior to completion of the delivery as many tanks belong to the ferry pilots themselves. Tanks are built using aluminum with internal rubber turbulence baffles and usually carry 20, 50 or 100usg of fuel each.

Delivery Route

An experienced delivery pilot will plan the flight using a great circle route with the least known headwinds. Local weather knowledge is also essential as alternate airports are few and a point of no return means just that. There are many established oceanic routes commonly flown by ferry pilots. The route taken will depend on the time of year, the range of the aircraft and the forecast winds. A typical North America-Europe flight will begin at Goose Bay, Canada and take a straight line to Narsarsuaq, Greenland before heading to Reykjavik, Iceland and on into Northern Europe. However, attempting this route at the wrong time of the year or with the wrong destination conditions has ended in tragedy. In the winter time, most delivery pilots will have large ferry tanks installed and fly straight across the Atlantic from St Johns, Newfoundland to Ireland. To avoid Atlantic weather, some may decide to route through the Azores and on into Southern Europe or Africa. Routes are continually checked and amended once the delivery begins to reflect actual weather and aircraft performance. A good ferry pilot will never have a story about being short of fuel.

Flight Clearances

Flying to Europe requires permission from the aviation authorities of the countries you will fly over or into if the aircraft is flying using an FAA Permit To Fly (in the case of a ferry tank installation). Special search & rescue insurance clauses may also be required for countries such as Iceland. An experienced ferry pilot will have a good relationship with the aviation authorities and will be able to obtain these permission slips easily. However, ferrying to Russia, Africa and Asia require much more paperwork. Permission to enter airspace can take days to arrange and can cost $2-300 per clearance. Many times, the entry clearance is time and date specific with a window of +/- 2 hours before the permission is invalid and the process started again. Again, this is where prior planning, weather monitoring and known aircraft performance will ensure a smooth delivery. Many countries require diplomatic clearances and landing permission at specific airports. Again, these can take time and are date specific. If you attempt to fly to some parts of Russia, Africa or Asia without a clearance, the aircraft will be impounded and a large fine will be due before the crew and aircraft are released. Using the services of an experienced delivery pilot will protect against these issues as many will have good relations with the airfield operators and will request the correct clearances to coincide with accurate entry times.

Customs, Export and Import

Aircraft leaving North America must arrange a customs inspection at the every country to be visited. This will normally be a combined customs and immigration inspection. The ferry pilot will make these arrangements when pre-planning and prior to flying the leg. When exporting aircraft, appropriate forms must be completed for the customs agencies. Arriving at your exit airport without the correct forms completed in the correct way will delay your progress considerably. A good ferry pilot will take care of these forms to ensure accuracy and minimal delay. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that all import taxes and appropriate duty are paid prior to entry into the destination country. Many delivery pilots will recommend the services of an import lawyer who can ensure taxes paid are done so correctly and at the minimal rate. When the final destination is a European country, there are many ways to minimize your tax burden by entering Europe at the most appropriate airport. The ferry pilot will work with the import lawyer to establish the most economic entry into Europe. Some countries will allow tax to be paid at a later date ensuring the delivery can continue to the destination without delay.

Navigation and Airport Charges

Most aviation authorities charge a fee to use their airspace. This fee is normally sent directly to the aircraft owner and is based upon the aircraft weight and length of the leg. A typical GA piston Atlantic delivery would incur charges of up to $400. An airliner would receive bills of up to $1500. Many countries also charge a landing fee at each airport. Again, the fee depends on the weight of the aircraft. To land a small GA aircraft in Greenland will cost $150, Scotland $50 or Japan $500. The handling agent at some airports may charge a fee which will be similar to the landing fee. There are also security fees, visa fees, transportation fees and other such things. Once at the airport, you may require a hangar or de-icing. To de-ice a Cessna 172 will cost a couple of hundred dollars but to de-ice a B727 may cost $10,000. An experienced ferry pilot will plan the route accordingly and include any necessary fees in their quotation to ensure that there are no surprises for the aircraft owner.

Insurance

It is much cheaper to list a ferry company or pilot onto an existing aircraft policy than to obtain a stand alone ferry policy. The insurance company is going to want to know who is delivering your aircraft. The best price will be for an experienced and known professional delivery pilot or company. The cost to extend a policy to cover the route of a delivery will vary from broker to broker and for different aircraft types. A ferry pilot can arrange the insurance for you but the costs will generally be higher than obtaining these yourself.

The Delivery Pilot

There are many pilots who have undertaken an exciting summer Atlantic crossing. While they may have some good stories to tell, these are not ferry pilots. A professional delivery pilot is a full-time, very experienced pilot able to fly a variety of different aircraft and equipment at any time of year. They are pilots who understand long-range weather and are capable of making intelligent in-flight route decisions for changing oceanic patterns. A professional pilot will meticulously plot data as they make their crossing looking for the smallest changes in wind, temperature or engine parameters and make changes accordingly. They will make the safest decisions to ensure a successful delivery whether or not these are the most comfortable flight decisions or in line with the original plan. They are pilots who can shoot extreme weather instrument approaches accurately using non-precision equipment in non-radar mountainous or icy conditions. Most of all, the pilot will be a manager of the flight in the air and on the ground. They will deal with the airport personnel, paperwork, flight planning, fuelling, route decisions, weather and accommodation arrangements. Ferry pilots are used to solving problems quickly, efficiently and with diplomacy. The best pilots always communicate with the aircraft owner at each stop during the delivery.

Delivering aircraft can be a dangerous and fatal job in the wrong hands. At best, the wrong pilot will cost you money. Simply employing somebody who is capable of flying the aircraft will allow you to achieve 40% of the job you actually need completed. This statement is also true for many corporate or airline pilots with no international ferrying experience.

Time Lines

There are accepted delivery time lines for the Atlantic and Pacific. However, do not expect a delivery pilot to commit to a specific date or be penalized for a 'late' delivery. Most will agree to conduct the flight in the most expeditious and safe manner possible, whatever date the flight arrives. It is never in the best interest of the ferry pilot to delay and so delays will usually only be required when it is absolutely necessary. The delivery pilot will always have the final say and will never be placed under pressure to continue. Some examples of typical delivery times:-

North America to Europe - 3 days (smaller GA) to 2 days (airliner)

North America to Asia - 6 days (smaller GA) to 4 days (airliner)

North America to Africa - 4 days (smaller GA) to 3 days (airliner)

North America to Australia - 6 days (smaller GA) to 4 days (airliner)

It will take 1-2 days to install ferry tanks if required. This has to be added to the times above. A plan buffer of 1-2 days is normally added and accepted by all involved. Delays outside of these parameters are normally due to extreme weather or unforeseen mechanical issues.

Costs

Ensure that you receive an 'all inclusive' quotation. This ensures that your costs are known from the start. The ferry pilot is taking a small financial risk but will base the quotation on similar flights plus a small buffer. The ferry pilot is normally paid in advance because of this accepted financial risk. You must agree on a plan for unforeseen mechanical issues or extreme weather delays of more than 5 days. These unusual areas will not be covered by an inclusive agreement for obvious reasons. The quotation should cover:-

All fuel and oil required for the delivery

The ferry pilot/crew, accommodation, food and airfare

Flight planning, clearances, airport/handling charges, flight paperwork

Additional ferry tanks where necessary

Navigation charges (sometimes easier for the owner to pay direct)

Insurance (usually cheaper for the owner to pay direct)

These typical delivery quotations using experienced delivery pilots are given for guidance only. Differences will be determined by actual airports, route and aircraft used. These quotations do not include insurance.

Cessna 172 - United States to England - $9500

Piper Navajo - United States to Germany - $14,000

TBM 700 - United States to South Africa - $19,000

Cessna Citation - United States to Denmark - $23,000

Beech King Air C90 - United States to Japan - $28,000

BAe Jetstream - United States to France - $30,000

CL65 Regional Jet - United States to Hong Kong - $65,000

Boeing 737 - United States to Pakistan - $85,000

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 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