Aircraft ferry insurance readiness checklist
A practical checklist for aircraft owners to discuss with their insurance broker or carrier before a ferry, delivery, or repositioning mission.
Use this guide before requesting a ferry quote
Better information produces a cleaner review. These points help owners, buyers, brokers, dealers, and shops understand what usually matters before an aircraft is moved.
Questions to ask your insurer or broker
- Does the policy allow a ferry pilot or contract pilot to operate the aircraft?
- Is a named pilot approval required before the aircraft moves?
- Are there make/model, hours, certificates, ratings, recency, training, or mentor-pilot requirements?
- Does coverage apply for the full route, including each country or territory if applicable?
Information that may speed up approval
- Aircraft make/model, registration, insured value, operating purpose, and route.
- Pilot qualification requirements requested by the carrier.
- Planned origin, destination, and general timing window.
- Whether the flight is post-purchase delivery, maintenance repositioning, owner-assist, domestic relocation, or international ferry.
Coverage details to confirm
- Whether ferry, delivery, repositioning, maintenance movement, or special flight permit movements are treated differently.
- Whether coverage applies while parked, during maintenance release, during international stops, and during handoff.
- Whether deductibles, exclusions, open-pilot warranties, or territory limitations affect the movement.
Important boundary
- AFS does not act as an insurance broker or place coverage.
- Insurance questions should be confirmed directly with the aircraft owner’s insurance broker or carrier.
- AFS may request insurance information only to evaluate mission feasibility, pilot fit, and documentation readiness.
Ferry planning is easier when insurance is addressed early
Insurance questions can become one of the biggest schedule drivers in a ferry mission. Some policies allow approved contract pilots, some require a named pilot endorsement, and some apply different conditions for international, overwater, turbine, experimental, or post-maintenance operations. AFS does not act as an insurance broker, but early insurance clarity helps the mission review move cleaner.
Ask about pilot approval
Ask whether the ferry pilot must be named on the policy, whether minimum time-in-type is required, and what information the insurer needs before approving a pilot. This can matter more for turbine, pressurized, multi-engine, experimental, or higher-value aircraft.
Ask about route territory
Domestic coverage does not always mean international, overwater, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, or other territory is automatically covered. Route territory should be confirmed before any mission with border, island, or remote operations.
Ask about aircraft condition
Aircraft coming out of maintenance, requiring permit-related movement, or not flown recently may trigger additional insurer questions. Make sure the insurer understands the real status of the aircraft before timing is promised.
Useful information to have ready
- Insurer or broker contact information
- Current policy territory and effective dates
- Named-pilot or contract-pilot requirements
- Aircraft value, equipment, and operational limitations
- Any exclusions related to ferry, international, overwater, or permit-related movement
AFS can coordinate around insurance requirements, but does not determine coverage
AFS may provide pilot information or mission details needed for review, but the policyholder, insurer, and broker determine whether coverage applies. Clients should confirm coverage, named-pilot approvals, route territory, and any endorsements directly with the appropriate insurance professional.
Ready to move from research to review?
Use the quote form when you have the aircraft, route, timing, status, and handoff details ready. Use Contact if you have a general question first.
Need help preparing the details?
Start with the checklist, then submit what you have. AFS can identify missing items during follow-up.