What information is needed for an aircraft ferry quote?
A complete quote request helps AFS understand the aircraft, route, timing, documentation, insurance requirements, pilot qualification fit, permits, weather, and operational feasibility before determining whether a mission can be quoted.
A quote is not just a mileage calculation
Two aircraft may fly the same distance but require very different planning. Aircraft performance, fuel range, inspection status, pilot qualification requirements, insurance approval, weather exposure, terrain, airport access, and third-party coordination can all change the time, cost, and feasibility of a ferry mission.
Better information helps AFS avoid broad assumptions. It can also help protect the client from inflated one-size-fits-all pricing, because the quote can be built around the actual aircraft and mission instead of worst-case averages.
What AFS is trying to understand
The first review is about mission fit: can the aircraft be evaluated for owner-authorized ferry, delivery, relocation, or repositioning support, and what information is missing before a responsible quote can be prepared?
The most useful quote details fall into four groups
You do not need to have every item ready before making contact, but these are the categories that most often affect quote speed, accuracy, and next-step coordination.
Aircraft identity and configuration
- Make, model, year, registration, and serial number if available
- Engine type, avionics package, de-ice/anti-ice capability, autopilot status, and installed equipment
- Useful performance limitations such as fuel capacity, range, oxygen capability, or operating limitations
- Any aircraft-specific notes that affect pilot fit, route planning, or insurance approval
Aircraft status and readiness
- Current inspection status and recent flight history
- Known squawks, deferred items, open maintenance, or recent repair work
- Battery, tires, brakes, fuel status, oil status, and hangar/ramp condition if known
- Whether the aircraft is currently flyable, recently flown, in maintenance, or may require special review
Route, timing, and access
- Actual pickup airport or facility, not just city/state
- Intended destination and any preferred receiving airport or facility
- Desired timing, date flexibility, weather flexibility, and deadline sensitivity
- Who controls keys, records, fuel, ramp access, hangar access, and delivery handoff
Insurance, authorization, and contacts
- Who is authorized to approve aircraft movement
- Insurance broker or underwriter contact if named-pilot approval may be required
- Seller, buyer, broker, dealer, shop, or aircraft manager contact information
- Any special owner instructions, delivery expectations, or communication preferences
The same quote form supports different aircraft movement scenarios
Tell AFS why the aircraft needs to move. The mission type changes which questions matter most and helps route the request correctly.
Post-purchase delivery
The quote depends on closing timing, seller release, aircraft acceptance, logbook access, insurance approval, pickup access, and the buyer’s delivery expectations.
Maintenance repositioning
The quote depends heavily on aircraft status, shop coordination, recent maintenance, open discrepancies, maintenance-release status, and whether the movement is normal or permit-sensitive.
Domestic relocation
The quote usually centers on route distance, fuel stops, weather regions, terrain, pilot travel logistics, airport access, timing flexibility, and aircraft readiness.
Cross-border or international
The quote can change based on customs, permits, overflight planning, insurance territory, handler needs, equipment requirements, country-specific timing, and third-party coordination.
What makes a quote request stronger?
A strong quote request does not need to be perfect. It simply needs to be specific. “Move a Cessna from Texas to Florida next month” is useful, but “move a 2006 Cessna 182T from KADS to KPIE during the week of March 18, aircraft annual current, insurance broker contact available, seller controls keys and logs” is much more actionable.
Specific information helps AFS determine what follow-up is needed, what assumptions should be avoided, whether additional documentation may be required, and whether the request appears feasible enough to move toward quote coordination.
Information that often triggers follow-up
- Aircraft has not flown recently or status is uncertain
- Insurance requires named-pilot approval
- Aircraft is at a maintenance facility or has open discrepancies
- Pickup or delivery location is not a normal public airport handoff
- Route may involve mountains, overwater, border crossing, winter weather, or tight timing
- The requester is not the owner and authority needs to be clarified
Ready to submit quote details?
Submit what you know. AFS will follow up if aircraft, route, documentation, insurance, authorization, or timing details are missing.