Ferrying an aircraft Los Angeles to Oz
 

Depends on range. Can it do lax to hnl? If so, then Apia and maybe Nadi. Jepensen can plan the entire thing for you, depends on how much you can spend on planning...

Plan anything but Wollongong via Freemantle. It will raise suspicions.
Oh, and don't purchase an aircraft with cash:O

From west coast USA to Hawaii you will need to tank it.

Thereafter, there are possible routes without ferry tanks, but having installed them, it is better to leave them in for the whole trip to keep more options open.

If you are serious and not just fishing, PM me and I will put you in contact with the best guy in the business, who can tank it, fly it and de tank it on arrival. He can also fit a temporary HF if the aircraft does not have one already.
He will treat the aeroplane like his personal baby. Really knows his King Airs. So far, he has never ditched one, or otherwise failed to deliver and his prices are very competitive. Of course he has all the charts and knows where to get the best handling and fuel for the money.

Whatever you do, do NOT VH register before you arrive, as the ferry permit then becomes more difficult, as you are no longer dealing with the FAA but with our beloved CASA.

Avelli,
Thanks, will pm if 100% sure,
thanks to all who responded,
cheers

Pay someone to do it and go along for the ride. I can put you in touch with the guys Beech use if you are interested.

By the way East bound is much less hassle and probably cheaper in the long run without having to hire/plumb ferry tanks! :ok:

I wish you success if you decide to buy and ferry.

Having done two East bound I can tell you it is not worth the effort.

All is fine until you hit Egyptian Airspace until you arrive in Broome or Darwin.

The Middle East and Asia all have one thing in common. They all believe in corruption and you are fair game.

Expect a handling fee of $US1000 per landing, then pay thru the nose for fuel, then parking charges then landing charges etc etc. All have nothing on Bankstown Airport charging just multiply by 10.

Machevelli is correct, get a professional ferry company to do it, go along if you feel the need for long distance ferrying.

I have another Aero Commander 685 in the states and have decided if it comes out to Australia then it will go across the Pacific.

Rob Weaver would be happy to help out.
AHEM !

Hollis, HNL, Kirribati, Fiji, GC or via NFI or LHI, CH....in a King Air....piece of cake. IF you can still organise fuel on Christmas isles.

Interesting. I purchased an aircraft in the UK and had it ferried to Australia. I had the Australian CofA issued prior to UK departure. The thinking with going this route was that the aircraft would be ready to work as soon as it landed, not sitting around waiting for CASA to issue a CofA.

Instead it sat around waiting for work, but that's another story.

This was more the issue. Hitting the middle east during Ramadan was a real problem. It wasn't planned that way, but some delays meant that's the way it happened.

Fueled in India from portable drums, with a watering can and funnel. It took a while.

And the higher than expected charges occurred all the way into south east Asia.

Arrival in Australia was no drama at all.

Overall, the cost of the ferry, higher than expected en-route costs, cost of CofA issue and general hassle factor meant the total project price was roughly similar to buying one already in Australia. And this was when the Australian dollar was much stronger. I wouldn't bother today.

Having said all that, have also brought a light twin in from the US, via Hawaii and Pacific islands, when the Australian dollar was weaker than it is now. This ferry worked out fine and we still have the aircraft.

I did Merced (California) to Hilo, Majuro PKMJ, Coolangatta in a Conquest in July. Legs were 8 hours/8.5/9.0

Everything was organised by Jacko at DBF Aviation and the export side through Tom Lopes at Gareway Air Center.

We struck July 4th delays before departure.

If you need it working on arrival in Aus, try to get all the Aussie certifcation crap done in the US because most of it is done by the FAA to issue the export CofA. Ferry on the N-Reg.

I would echo DeHav's comment, get a pro to do it and go along for the ride.

If it is your first ferry then I would also endorse DeHav's comment, get a pro to organise and go along with you.

Depending on winds and time of year suggest Santa Barbara or Hollister - Hilo - Christmas Island (but check for fuel first) - Pago Pago (Apia also works but fuel can be more expensive) - Nadi - AUS if your destination is not SYD or BNE clearing customs at Lord Howe is real easy.

You can also go Hilo - Majuro or Hilo - Tarawa (check for fuel first). The southern route gives you shorter legs and more divert options.

As for VH vs N rego, I have never had a problem VH, just make sure you have all the paperwork in order. And besides getting as much work done as possible in the US will be cheaper than Australia.

Having done both N and VH ferry doesn't really matter which you chose. Both have their pluses and minuses.

However I endorse the idea of getting as much work done in the USA, except radios. Avionics in the USA is a nightmare and you will get SCREWED.

But anything else do it in the USA. As an example I got my 5 year undercarriage overhaul done their for $US9,000. The quote from Hawkers in Aust $20,000.

A big thing with all aircraft is to arrive in Australia will ALL inspections and ADs done. Then to have a workshop lined up for a fixed C of A cost.

This why you get a pro to do it, they know the route to take to keep these costs at a minimum. Like I said earlier pay someone to do it and go along for the ride!