Ferrying a Plane

I've done it many times, HEF-PHX-GJT-HEF (many stops between), Long beach-fl-va, fla, cedar city etc.

My best advice, bring a camera, a notebook, and don't fly straight. You never know what you will find in small obscure places. Take a buddy if you can, and a personal GPS.

Use the note book to Geo Tag your photos, and notes with GPS coordinates. When you get done you can load it all together in google maps, and share your trip. Draw your track across sectinonals, and save them. Mix it up, have fun, eat well :) The locals always love to point u towards the flavor of the area if you ask nice. Try to hit the sights, Mt/ Rushmore, sturgis, hoover dam, grand caynon, the gulf, lakes, etc.

File vfr flight plans, open and close them, and make sure somebody is expecting you to check in... that is at least a little bit familure with where your supposed to be going.
 
I'm not sure what you're doing as far as routing but this is what I would do for VNY to Miami.

VNY-RAL(very short flight)-WIA-ELP-Dallas-Monroe,LA-Meridian,MS-Valdosta,GA-orlando-MIA
 
VMC only, no night in mountainous terrain. Set your day rate and stick with it. Don't lowball yourself, or anyone else. This is a big flight. The guy can and should be paying you $350-$400/day. Make it clear that you expect your day right for every day outside of home base, including travel and wx days. Hotel of your choice, rental car if you need it, and give yourself $100/day expenses.
 
Make sure to do a long and thorough preflight, check all the MX books, and have your charts/frequencies available.

Route yourself from airport to airport instead of navaid to navaid in case the plane decides to take a dump. I know that some GA aircraft are not used to flying for more than 4 hours in a day and might start to complain after extended flight time at constant high power settings.

Just be smart, have fun and take pictures. Oh and bring lots of empty RESEALABLE Gatoraide bottles ;)
 
c172captain said:
Thanks for the words of wisdom. I'll go online to see what prices are for a decent survival kit
Click to expand...

You don't need to buy one unless you want to. Just pack a knife, ten bottles of water, some food, warm clothing, and a fire starting mechanism (perferably ferrocerium which is similiar to flint). If you can find them, water purification tablets would be a great addition to the kit.

File vfr flight plans, open and close them, and make sure somebody is expecting you to check in... that is at least a little bit familure with where your supposed to be going.
Click to expand...

I would recommend filing IFR. Most instructors do not get a chance to do any real IFR flying and when they do it is from the right seat telling the student what to do. Even if it is clear and million filing IFR for practice will improve your instrument skills.

Alex.
 
Citationkid said:
I would recommend filing IFR. Most instructors do not get a chance to do any real IFR flying and when they do it is from the right seat telling the student what to do. Even if it is clear and million filing IFR for practice will improve your instrument skills.
Click to expand...

Not to mention it is safer and allows the customer to track your exact progress on Flight Aware, which most of them really like.
 
When I did C-172, Cirrus, BE-76 ferry VNY-JAC or HPN few years back.
$350 USD per day. $60 Per Diem. Marriott, Hilton or Embassy Suites for hotels. WX Delays and fuel, oil, parking, Jepps all included in contract between the owner and I.

Now I a fly SIC on citations.
 
If you don't meet the open pilot warranty on the owner's insurance, make absolutely sure you are a named pilot on the policy. Use/borrow a portable GPS, one with weather would be really nice. Learn the proper leaning procedure too, a 4+00 airplane can drop to 3+a bit without proper mixture control in climb and cruise. Have fun!
 
The AIM actually requests says that you should file IFR even in severe clear just to keep the skills up. Plus you can have your friends/family/lady look on Flight Aware so you don't have 30 voicemails to go through after you land. Bring plenty of water, gatorade, or whatever your poison is. Bring an ipod or a non-aviation related magazine and get plenty of sleep before. Not gonna lie, your brain will be pudding by the end of the first day. I ferried a plane from Kentucky to Nebraska and then immediately turned around and did a 4 hour xc with a student. 11 hours of flying a 172, :banghead:. Last thing, have a good time! A lot of people would love to do that, don't take it for granted, don't shortcut, use it to learn.
 
surreal1221 said:
My services are currently limited to airframes I'm familiar with.
Click to expand...
Raja. I remember some time ago when I'd ferry anything just to make money and build the flight time. What a stupid I am/was.

jrh said:
Not to mention it is safer and allows the customer to track your exact progress on Flight Aware, which most of them really like.
Click to expand...
Please tell me how filing IFR is automatically safer than going VFR. This I have to hear.

-mini
 
Have something with some sort of weather depiction. A 496 should be perfect and it will greatly help with your in-flight decision making. Take the southern route across the Rockies as it should be the safer way to go. Also, like others have said, get a contract.
 
Sounds like fun. Keep us updated on your progress; maybe post maps of your route or something.

Yes, definitely pack a survival kit, and as we say, "dress to egress". Get as familiar with the plane and route (terrain) as possible. Do your homework--call the FBOs you plan to overnight at and ensure they have fuel, transportation, and parking available for you. Don't push the limits of the airplane with respect to fuel planning--be conservative. If possible, get some dual with an instructor experienced in that specific make and model prior to departure. File IFR or get VFR flight following, and maybe get one of those 'spot' devices and transmit a periodic "OK" message to someone following your progress. Know the POH, particularily the boldface emergency procedures. Oh yea, and have fun!
 
minitour said:
Raja. I remember some time ago when I'd ferry anything just to make money and build the flight time. What a stupid I am/was.
Click to expand...

Nothing like that man. I'm not calling anyone who is going to ferry a plane they have zero time in as stupid, I'm just saying I'm not necessarily that'd comfortable with doing it myself. At least not yet. That's all. Not that I'd expect an extensive "familiarization" process, but perhaps an 1+30 working on basic airwork and simulated failures before heading off into the distance across country.

That's all. To each his/her own.
 
minitour said:
Please tell me how filing IFR is automatically safer than going VFR. This I have to hear.

-mini
Click to expand...

Emergency services are launched much quicker if something happens. They will also have a much more precise location on you. If something were to happen in an area of no radar coverage, they will know you are on V12 roughly 30 miles from ABQ. If you are VFR they will have a much larger area to search.

Alex.
 
surreal1221 said:
Nothing like that man. I'm not calling anyone who is going to ferry a plane they have zero time in as stupid...
Click to expand...
I'm not either. Just that, for me, it was probably stupid to be doing in some of the planes I ended up getting into.

That's all. To each his/her own.
Click to expand...
True for the most part.

Citationkid said:
Emergency services are launched much quicker if something happens. They will also have a much more precise location on you. If something were to happen in an area of no radar coverage, they will know you are on V12 roughly 30 miles from ABQ. If you are VFR they will have a much larger area to search.

Alex.
Click to expand...
That doesn't help make the flight any safer. That only helps when something bad has aleady happened. How does filing IFR increase the safety of the flight over VFR?

-mini
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top