Aircraft Ferrying and Delivery Flights
Aircraft ferrying moves an aircraft from where it is to where it needs to be: from the seller to the buyer, from the factory or completion centre to its new base, or to and from a maintenance facility. MEGA Aviation arranges aircraft ferrying and delivery flights through licensed partner operators and specialist ferry providers, who supply appropriately qualified crew, while we coordinate the planning, permits and paperwork around the flight.
Aircraft ferrying: when owners and operators need it
Ferry flights are part of the life of most aircraft. The common reasons are:
- Sale and delivery — moving an aircraft to a new owner after purchase.
- Maintenance — taking an aircraft to a maintenance facility for inspection, repair or a major check, and bringing it back.
- Completion and refurbishment — flying a new or refurbished aircraft from the completion centre to its base.
- Lease returns and repositioning — moving an aircraft at the start or end of a lease, or to a new operating base.
- Storage — moving an aircraft to or from a storage location.
If you are buying or selling, our aircraft sales and acquisitions page explains how we support transactions, and the delivery flight is often part of that plan.
How an aircraft ferry flight is planned
Every ferry starts with the aircraft itself. We need to know the type, the registration and its current location, the destination, and the airworthiness status of the aircraft today. From there the plan covers:
- Crew — appropriately licensed pilots with the right type rating and experience for the route, supplied by the partner operator or ferry provider.
- Routing — the legs, fuel stops and alternates that suit the aircraft's range and the airports available.
- Permits — landing and overflight permissions for every country along the route.
- Insurance — hull and liability cover that applies to the ferry, including any special conditions.
- Documents — registration, airworthiness and maintenance records that must travel with the aircraft.
We share the plan in writing so the owner, the buyer or seller, and any lender or lessor can see what is being arranged.
Routing, range and technical stops
Ferry routes are planned around range. A long-range business jet may complete an intercontinental delivery in one or two legs. A light jet, turboprop or piston aircraft may need several stops, and some ocean crossings require additional equipment, fuel planning or specific routes. Weather, airport opening hours, fuel availability and permits all affect the plan.
Because these factors change from day to day, we confirm the routing and timing in the proposal rather than promising fixed flight times in advance.
Special flight permits for non-airworthy aircraft
Sometimes an aircraft does not currently meet every airworthiness requirement but can still be flown safely to a place where it will be repaired. In many countries the aviation authority can issue a special flight permit, sometimes called a ferry permit, for that specific flight. The permit usually comes with conditions, such as the route, crew limits or a ban on carrying passengers.
Whether a permit is possible, and how long it takes, depends on the state of registry, the defect and the countries involved. We work with the operator, the maintenance organisation and the owner to establish what is needed before we confirm a date.
Import, export and registration changes
International deliveries often involve a change of registration and customs formalities. The aircraft may need to be deregistered in one country and registered in another, export and import declarations filed, and taxes or duties addressed. These steps sit with the owner, the buyer and their advisers, but the ferry timing depends on them, so we coordinate closely and flag anything that could hold the aircraft on the ground.
For owners who want ongoing support after delivery, see our aircraft management service.
Pre-purchase inspections and acceptance flights
Ferry flights are often linked to inspections. An aircraft may need to fly to a facility for a pre-purchase inspection before the sale completes, or the buyer may want an acceptance flight before taking delivery. We can coordinate these steps with the maintenance facility and the parties to the transaction, so the inspection, the acceptance and the delivery flight fit into one plan.
Aircraft types we can arrange ferries for
Ferry flights can be arranged for a wide range of aircraft, including piston singles and twins, turboprops, light, midsize and large-cabin business jets, and some airliners. The crew, insurance and routing requirements change significantly with the type, so the aircraft details are the first thing we ask for. Our aircraft guide has an overview of business-aircraft categories and ranges.
What we need to quote a ferry flight
To prepare a quote, please share:
- Aircraft type, year and registration.
- Current location and destination.
- Preferred dates and any deadlines, such as a closing date for a sale.
- Airworthiness status and any known defects.
- Whether the aircraft is changing registration or country.
- Contact details for the owner or authorised representative.
Insurance for ferry flights
Ferry flights need insurance that clearly covers the specific flight, the crew and the route. Standard policies sometimes exclude long overwater legs, certain regions or flights under a special permit, so the owner's insurer or broker should confirm cover before departure. Lenders and lessors often have their own requirements as well. We share the planned routing and crew details early so the insurance can be arranged or extended in good time.
Ocean crossings and long-distance deliveries
Long ferries over water need careful preparation. Shorter-range aircraft may cross oceans in stages using island or coastal airports, and some routes require additional survival and communication equipment, specific navigation capability or extra fuel capacity. Weather windows matter, and crews may wait for suitable conditions before continuing. For these deliveries the plan always includes contingency time, and we keep the owner informed at each stage, from departure through every stop to arrival.
Working with the owner, buyer and maintenance facility
A ferry flight often sits between several parties: the current owner, the buyer, the maintenance or completion facility, the lender and the insurer. Each needs to know when the aircraft moves and what condition it is in. We act as a single point of coordination, keep everyone working from the same plan, and confirm in writing who is responsible for each step, so the delivery does not stall because one approval or document was missed.
Repositioning after charter, lease or storage
Ferry flights are also used to reposition aircraft between bases, return them at the end of a lease or bring them out of storage. Aircraft coming out of storage may need maintenance checks before they can fly, and lease returns usually require records and condition reports to be agreed in advance. If the aircraft will be available for lease after delivery, see our aircraft for lease page.
Aircraft ferrying FAQs
What is aircraft ferrying?
Aircraft ferrying is the non-revenue flight of an aircraft from one place to another, for example after a sale, for delivery to a new owner, or to and from a maintenance facility. No passengers or cargo are carried for hire.
Who flies the aircraft on a ferry flight?
The flight is flown by appropriately licensed and type-qualified crew supplied by the partner operator or ferry provider. MEGA Aviation coordinates the arrangement and does not operate the flight itself.
Can a non-airworthy aircraft be ferried?
In some cases, yes. If the aircraft does not meet all airworthiness requirements, a special flight permit may be issued by the relevant authority for a specific flight to a place where it can be repaired. Conditions vary by country.
What documents are needed for an aircraft ferry flight?
Typically the certificate of registration, airworthiness documents, insurance, maintenance records and any permits for each country overflown or landed in. For export or import, customs and deregistration papers may also be required.
How much does an aircraft ferry flight cost?
It depends on the aircraft, the distance, the number of legs and stops, crew travel and accommodation, fuel, permits and insurance. Each ferry is quoted individually in writing.
How long does it take to organise a ferry flight?
Simple domestic ferries can be quick to organise. International ferries, especially those needing special flight permits, overflight clearances or export paperwork, can take longer. We confirm a realistic timeline in the proposal.
Request a ferry flight quote
Send the aircraft details, the route and your dates, and we will return a written proposal that sets out the crew arrangement, routing, permits and what the price includes.