Has anyone done a ferry contract to move an airliner? Like ferrying an Airbus or Boeing for a leasing company to its new lessee. I assume using contract pilots to ferry airliners is very sporadic. But what are the assignments like in terms of length and terms and conditions?
Ferry pilots ferrying airliners worldwide
- Thread starter J777Fly
- Start date
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Most, if not all airlines use their own pilots to take delivery of new/used airplanes. This includes ferrying planes to new owners, or the boneyard.
guywhoflies
Y'NO WUT IM SAYIN
I met a guy who delivers RJ's around the world. He is not an airline guy, he is S. African. I remember he told me about ferrying some to Russia. It sounded like a good gig.
Thats why I asked. Because most Contract crew leasing companies like PARC specialise in this area. And I know not every ferry is done by line pilots of the airlines involved...Its not always practical.
E.g flying a B737 to India, from Brazil will take 3-4 days I imagine. Can an airline spare their crew for that long, then pay for their expenses to fly them back from India? Also, if they have Brazillian Licences and the aircraft has changed to indian registration, can they get an Indian validation that quick?
And Aircraft Leasing companies do not have a flight crew department.
So surely ferry pilots are used at some point.
Pilotwannabe1123
New Member
Doesn't US Airways contract pilots?
no. They use their own pilots to take deliveries in Europe.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Most of the time, the aircraft registration isn't changed until after delivery. Case in point, the MD-90 aircraft Delta just took delivery of from China were flown over by chinese pilots with chinese registration on the plane. Once DL took final delivery, the planes got an N number.
As far as using spare crews, I guess it depends on the company and any PWA. AFAIK, almost all US carriers use their own pilots.
Lee D
Well-Known Member
After they are sold I believe we have done both with our old Brasilias. We have had some delivered by our pilots to purchasers in the US. A few years ago they sold several into Africa. In that case someone outside the company flew them down when the sale was final.
Note to HDQ : Next time I'd be happy to fly one down to Africa. That would be very cool.
Note to HDQ : Next time I'd be happy to fly one down to Africa. That would be very cool.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
typhoonpilot
Well-Known Member
Here ya go:
www.aviacrews.com
It's owned by a good friend of mine. He moves airplanes for leasing companies, etc. It's mostly second tier and other used aircraft, DC-9, MD-80, 737, A320, B747 Classic, etc, and often to third world countries. He keeps a number of guys fairly busy, but they are hand picked based on their ability to get the job done. It's not airline flying with someone holding your hand the whole time. It's moving a marginal airplane half way around the world with little to no support.
I've done a few contracts moving MD-80s out of Goodyear. They had been sitting for a couple of years and were not in the best of condition. They got signed off by an FAA designated engineer ( forget the exact acronym ) so I had a ferry permit allowing all the known defects. Paid about $600/day if I remember correctly. So it was Monday airline to Phoenix; Tuesday ferry Florida; Wednesday flight back to Phoenix; Thursday ferry to Florida; Friday airline home. Five days work for $3000. Airline, hotel, and per diem paid. Not a bad gig.
PARC and Sigmar occasionally let contracts for this kind of work, but it's much more of an inside group like my friend's company that work with the leasing companies full time.
Register your details with PARC, Sigmar, and Avia and maybe you'll get a call but better to find the guys who do this kind of work and get on their good side.
Typhoonpilot
