freighting a light aircraft?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 419
Likes: 5
From: south coast
freighting a light aircraft?
has anybody any contact nos or info regarding the costs of freighting a small Biplane from - in this case florida to the UK ?
a contact company name or previous experience would be greatly appreciated
a contact company name or previous experience would be greatly appreciated
Top Dog
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,098
Likes: 0
From: Close to FACT
You'll no doubt have to go to a freight agent. Even to fit a B747F, you'll have to dismantle it. At a guess you'll have to take the wings/empennage off. They'll need the dimensions of the dismantled/packed pieces & weight.
You will probably be paying for the volume your aircraft occupies in the freighter ("chargeable weight") so beware. Don't think you will be paying lets say 1000KG x $1.... (2 positions in a 74F count as 6.4T "chargeable" as a rough guide).
This will be an expensive exercise, would suggest you compare prices with sea-freight assuming cost IS an issue and time ISN'T an issue.
rgds
You will probably be paying for the volume your aircraft occupies in the freighter ("chargeable weight") so beware. Don't think you will be paying lets say 1000KG x $1.... (2 positions in a 74F count as 6.4T "chargeable" as a rough guide).
This will be an expensive exercise, would suggest you compare prices with sea-freight assuming cost IS an issue and time ISN'T an issue.
rgds
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Dunstable, Beds UK
As CR says the only way is seafreight in either a 20ft or 40 ft container. Not a big jump in price between 20 and 40.
A 40 about $4,000 USA to UK but you can get 3 light aircraft C150 / PA28 in a 40 foot. ( So get a couple of mates !!
Take the wings and tail off. With Cessna no problemo as you still have the wheels ! On Piper you will have to make a small dolly .
If its a US reg be careful going onto UK ! You will need an Export C.ofA. if is a private cat.
A 40 about $4,000 USA to UK but you can get 3 light aircraft C150 / PA28 in a 40 foot. ( So get a couple of mates !!
Take the wings and tail off. With Cessna no problemo as you still have the wheels ! On Piper you will have to make a small dolly .
If its a US reg be careful going onto UK ! You will need an Export C.ofA. if is a private cat.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
The legalities of subsequently getting the aircraft onto the G register will depend upon what paperwork it's got (i.e. version of CofA or experimental category, whether the UK has an approval for the type)
Whilst de-rigging most light aircraft, even a biplane, is a less painful process than you might think (a LAME and a couple of able-bodied assistants in 1 working day tops), personally, I've always found that transporting light aircraft by road or sea is fraught, and almost invariably some significant damage is done en-route. Frankly, I'd take a couple of weeks off work and fly it. In the long run, it's probably cheaper, and I'd have thought a whole lot more fun. If you haven't the right licence, you'll not struggle to find somebody who'd do it for expenses (me for a start!).
Out of interest, what is it?
G
Whilst de-rigging most light aircraft, even a biplane, is a less painful process than you might think (a LAME and a couple of able-bodied assistants in 1 working day tops), personally, I've always found that transporting light aircraft by road or sea is fraught, and almost invariably some significant damage is done en-route. Frankly, I'd take a couple of weeks off work and fly it. In the long run, it's probably cheaper, and I'd have thought a whole lot more fun. If you haven't the right licence, you'll not struggle to find somebody who'd do it for expenses (me for a start!).
Out of interest, what is it?
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 29th June 2004 at 21:45.
Nexialist
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
From: Milton Keynes
There is a useful article in this months Pilot about getting GA planes from the US to here. It mentions a company at, IIRC, Panshanger that also has access to a semi-retired CAA inspector who now lives in Florida, as inspection standards can be very different apparantly, this would lessen the chance of any nasty surprises once the aircraft was in the UK.
