Buying Abroad
In today’s globalized aviation market, finding your dream aircraft might mean looking beyond borders. If you’ve discovered the perfect aircraft in Europe but are based in the United States, don't worry—it's entirely feasible to bring that aircraft home. Here are some notable steps in the process, ensuring a smooth transition from its European location to your US hangar.
1. Initial Visual Inspection
The journey begins with a visual inspection at the aircraft's current location in Europe. This initial step involves a thorough assessment of the aircraft's physical condition. The brokers and technical representatives will verify that the aircraft’s actual state matches the details provided online, ensuring there are no surprises before moving forward.
2. Detailed Pre-Purchase Inspection
Following the visual inspection, a more comprehensive pre-purchase inspection is conducted. This critical evaluation dives deeper into the aircraft’s condition, focusing on the annual inspection records, FAA compliance to meet export requirements, and any specific systems or features that you, as the buyer, are particularly interested in. This step is crucial for identifying potential issues and confirming that the aircraft meets all necessary standards and requirements.
3. Deregistration Process
Depending on where the inspections are completed, we begin the deregistration process before or after satisfactory of the inspections. The aircraft must be deregistered from its current European country to enable its registration with the FAA in the United States. This bureaucratic step is essential for ensuring the aircraft’s legal transition to the US aviation system.
4. Customs Clearing Warehouse/VAT
After deregistration and inspections, the aircraft is transported to a customs warehouse if not already there pre-inspections. The custom warehouse usage with service providers have become more standard as VAT tax exposures are eliminated by selling party that could otherwise be at risk of being due had they not used a customs warehouse.
5. Closing the Deal and FAA Registration
With all inspections completed and maintenance verified, we proceed to finalize the purchase. Once the aircraft is officially closed on this is when the aircraft’s registration with the FAA begins. The tail number will be updated, and a Designated Airworthiness Representative will issue a Certificate of Airworthiness, allowing the aircraft to legally operate in the US.
6. Ferry Flight and Final Customs Clearance
The final leg of the journey involves ferrying the aircraft to the United States. The aircraft goes through a formal customs warehouse exit and is then ready to depart. Upon arrival, it will undergo a final customs clearance to ensure that all paperwork and regulations are satisfied. Once this process is complete, your aircraft is ready for use in its new home.
Purchasing an aircraft abroad can be a seamless experience with the right guidance and preparation. By partnering with firms that have knowledge and experience with all these steps and each of the required vendors, you ensure that your new aircraft is in top condition, legally compliant, and ready to take to the skies. Safe travels and happy flying!