Please help me out and give me a hint what exactly makes it cost prohibitive if in fact maintenance is not the major issue.
maehhh,
How about the cost of at least two visits by an approved person flown up from Australia, firstly to inspect the aircraft, and the second time, to issue the certificate.
About AUD $7-8000 for Premium Economy, if the said person will travel in that class, much more if they insist on business.
Plus time and expenses, it all adds up very quickly. It is rare for only one visit to be required to issue the certificate.
If it happens to be an aircraft that requires a type rating, and you don't already have one, that is also a cost issue, you will need a CASA approved person, if it comes in the Limited Cat. in Australia, you will be dealing with Australian Warbirds Association Ltd, and you will need to comply with all their bumpf, including negotiating an approved system of maintenance, it is aeroplane specific for all Limited (or Experimental/ Exhibition and negotiate with CASA) aircraft.
As for the SB specific to EASA, make certain CASA does not require some
/all of them.
It might work out easier and cheaper to initially put it on the N- register, but that is no longer straight forward for a non-US national.
Tootle pip!!