Two cents worth,
When I was involved in deliveries from Toulouse there was definitely a 'procedure' for my airline (one from asia pacific buying A380's - I.E lots of money)
During the delivery process it was a very well noted fact that the aircraft was still owned by Airbus and that 'we' couldn't touch or do anything to the aircraft (I.E install customer specified equipment or software etc)
TOT - transfer of title occured once Airbus and 'we' were happy with the state of the A/C (I.E after lots of system checks, inspections, flight test etc).
TOT involved the actual Wire transfer from my company to Airbus of the agreed purchace price - heavily guarded secret but I believe in the case of our A380's in the region of $270 million USD. This was done 'movie style' with the finance people from Airbus and our company sweating over computers to effect and verify the electronic money transfer to Airbus/EADS. This electronic transfer occured soon after a fairly lavish lunch involving both sides and all and sundry hangers on. We're talking fine French dining and Champagne. Bare in mind that these were A380's - the pride of the fleet - if you were buying an A320 - effectively a taxi, there was no great lunch/champagne etc. Delivery process for a 380 was about 14 days, for a 320 about 2-3 days (they've been doing these since 1989)
Once the above was verified it 'became' our aircraft and we had a limited time to install our customised software and equipment and drive it off the parking lot. Also the French rego on the aircraft was removed and our national rego and flag revealed from under the covers.
After TOT the A/C was effectively owned by the airline (for a very short time). After take-off from Toulouse and during the first few hours of flight (a time when a return to TLS due defect was ruled out) the ownership of the aircraft was electronically transferred to the finance/lease company/companies who then become the 'owner' of the aircraft.
Plaques RE ownership were then screwed to the back of the cockpit door. Aircraft is now owned by leasors and finance companies (mostly shelf companies owned by the airline)
So, it was only from TOT on say a Monday until the transfer to the lease company the next day during delivery flight (say Tuesday) that the A/C was 'actually' owned by the airline.
This whole debarcle was no doubt due to Tax implications - the details I'm unsure of.
Last edited by Big M; 22nd August 2013 at 11:53.