Hangar Talk - Ferry permit for an N-reg in Europe

13-Dec-13 20:19

I just got the following in an email mailshot from the USA

Obtaining a ferry permit is usually easy. There are three steps: First, you need to find an A&P mechanic who is willing to give you a logbook entry certifying that the airplane is in a safe condition to make the proposed ferry flight. Note that “safe to ferry” is a very low standard; you’re not asking the A&P to certify that the aircraft is airworthy, only that it’s safe to make one more (usually short) flight. (If the airplane was airworthy, you wouldn’t need a ferry permit to fly it.) Getting this safe-to-ferry logbook entry from an A&P isn’t an absolute requirement, but without it a FSDO Inspector will need to come out and inspect your aircraft … and trust me, you don’t want that. An example of a logbook entry can be found here: http://gallery.mailchimp.com/dfd69bf8f8fec1b9da00eedbd/files/sample_logbook_entry.pdf

Next, you need to fill out an application form, FAA Form 8130-6 which you can obtain as a PDF fill-in form from here (http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Form/FAA_Form_8130-6_4-11.pdf).
This form is titled “Application for U.S. Airworthiness Certificate” but it’s also the form to apply for a ferry permit. This two-page form has eight sections (labelled I through VIII), but for a ferry permit you only fill out sections I, II, and VII. In section I you describe your aircraft; in section II you check two boxes saying that you’re applying for a special flight permit for a maintenance ferry flight; and in section VII you state who owns the airplane, describe the proposed ferry flight, and explain why the airplane is not airworthy. An example of the application can be found here: http://gallery.mailchimp.com/dfd69bf8f8fec1b9da00eedbd/files/sample_ferry_permit_application.pdf

Finally, you need to fax the completed application form plus the safe-to-ferry logbook entry to the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) whose jurisdiction includes the airport where your aircraft is located. Follow up your fax with a phone call to the FSDO and ask to speak to the Airworthiness Safety Inspector (ASI) to whom your ferry permit application has been assigned. The ASI might have a few questions, but unless something in your application or the safe-to-fly logbook entry looks fishy he’ll usually fax you back the ferry permit the same day you apply. Here’s an example of a ferry permit (http://gallery.mailchimp.com/dfd69bf8f8fec1b9da00eedbd/files/sample_ferry_permit.pdf); you’ll need to have it in your aircraft during the ferry flight.The only time things can get complicated is if you can’t find a local A&P willing to sign off the safe-to-fly logbook entry. In that case, you
may need to find a mechanic willing to drive or fly to where the airplane is located and inspect it to the extent necessary for him to certify it as safe to make the ferry flight.

The FSDO responsible for Europe is either the NY IFU, or the Frankfurt one.

Has anybody ever heard of anybody managing to get a ferry permit (as described above i.e. aircraft not airworthy) in Europe?

Last Edited by Peter at 13 Dec 20:19

Administrator

Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

14-Dec-13 23:56

A ferry Permit is a sub-ICAO document, and so only automatically useable in US airspace.

So, to fly in Europe, you’d also need individual overflight permissions from the nation owning each FIR you intend to fly through.

I have some experience of this ferrying out of CofA G-reg aeroplanes on a permit issued for ferry purposes, and can see no reason why the regs should treat a US aircraft more leniently.

Boffin at large

Various, southern UK.

Forum → Hangar Talk

Ferry permit for an N-reg in Europe

Threads possibly related to this one