What's the order of steps?
- Pre-buy inspection and logbook review
- Title search and closing
- FAA bill of sale and registration application
- Insurance binder that covers the ferry pilot
- Ferry flight home
Getting the order right keeps you from paying for a ferry trip on an airplane that can't legally leave, or one you wouldn't have bought.
Why get an independent pre-buy inspection?
A pre-buy is an inspection by a mechanic who works for you, not the seller. Ideally they know the type. It isn't the same as an annual, so agree on the scope in writing: typically compressions and borescope, corrosion, the gear and brakes, the avionics and a records review. Ask whether the seller will let it be done in a hangar or shop. If the airplane has to fly to a shop for the pre-buy, the seller usually arranges that flight. Pre-buy pricing is set by the shop.
What should I look for in the logbooks?
- A recent annual (within the preceding 12 calendar months, 14 CFR 91.409), and who did it
- AD compliance records, including recurring ADs
- Major repairs and alterations, with FAA Form 337s where required
- Engine and prop times since overhaul, and any gaps in the history
- Transponder, ELT and pitot-static checks
If the annual has lapsed, decide with the seller whether it gets done before closing or whether the airplane comes home on a special flight permit for the inspection.
How do I check title and registration?
Look up the N-number in the FAA Registry inquiry to confirm the registered owner, the status and the expiration date. Registration certificates now last seven years (14 CFR 47.40). Many buyers use an aviation title company to search the FAA records for liens and handle escrow. That's worth it on almost any purchase.
Which FAA forms are needed?
Under 14 CFR 47.31 you submit to the FAA Aircraft Registry:
- AC Form 8050-2, Aircraft Bill of Sale (or other accepted evidence of ownership), signed by the seller
- AC Form 8050-1, Aircraft Registration Application, signed by you. The FAA says it can be filed online through its CARES system or on paper.
- The registration fee
The name on the application should match the purchaser on the bill of sale exactly. If you're buying in an LLC, register it in the LLC's name.
Can the airplane fly before the new registration arrives?
Usually, yes. Once the forms and fee have been submitted, carrying the signed second copy of the registration application in the aircraft (the "pink copy") is temporary authority to operate within the United States. It lasts until the registration certificate arrives or the FAA denies the application (14 CFR 47.31(c)). The limits:
- It's only good inside the U.S.
- It's not available if 12 months have passed since the first application after the ownership transfer.
- It can't be used if no registration number was assigned when you applied. The FAA's form also says it doesn't apply when the most recent registration is expired or cancelled.
The airplane also needs its airworthiness certificate on board (14 CFR 91.203). We confirm both before departure.
What about insurance?
Put a policy in place, or at least an insurance binder, effective from closing, before the ferry flight. Tell your broker who will fly it home. If it's us, we send the assigned pilot's qualifications so the broker can approve them under the open-pilot clause or as a named pilot. We need written confirmation before we fly.
What about sales or use tax?
States treat aircraft purchases differently, and some charge use tax on aircraft bought elsewhere and brought in. Ask your accountant or your state tax agency before closing, since where and when delivery happens can matter. We don't give tax advice.
How does the ferry home work?
When the paperwork is done, the pilot flies on the airline to the airplane, does an acceptance inspection and paperwork check, and flies it home with updates along the way. See how a ferry flight works.
As an estimate: a Bonanza bought near Dallas and flown to Van Nuys (about 1,080 nautical miles) would typically be one airline travel day out and two flying days home, at the high-performance rate.
| Item | Basis (estimate) | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot day rate | 3 days × $550 (1 travel day + 2 flying days) | $1,650 |
| Fuel | ≈ 7 hours × 15 gal/hr ≈ 105 gal × $7.50 | ≈ $790 |
| Lodging and meals | 2 nights plus 3 days of meals (assumed) | ≈ $350–500 |
| Airport fees | Fuel stops and departure ramp fees (assumed) | ≈ $50–150 |
| Pilot travel to the airplane | Airline Burbank to Dallas plus rideshares (assumed) | ≈ $250–450 |
| Estimated total | ≈ $3,100–3,550 |
Estimate only. These figures are planning estimates, not a quote or a record of a past trip. Fuel is figured at an assumed $7.50 per gallon of 100LL (AirNav listed U.S. and California averages of about $7.28 and $7.71 in early November 2026). Airfare, lodging, meals and fees are assumptions. Your written quote uses your aircraft, route and dates.
Quick checklist
- Independent pre-buy and logbook review
- Registry lookup and title search
- Signed 8050-2 and 8050-1 submitted, with the pink copy in the airplane
- Insurance binder approving the pilot
- Airworthiness certificate on board, plus a ferry permit only if it's needed
Next steps: see ferry pilot rates, read how a ferry flight works, check the ferry flight FAQ, or request a written quote.