Importing Aircraft Internationally

Importing an aircraft is a paperwork-heavy process that rewards experience. The airplane is usually the easy part — the timeline is driven by deregistration, customs, and the FAA.

Step 1: Verify eligibility before you commit

Confirm the aircraft has a type certificate accepted by the FAA, or plan for the additional certification work required. Review the export country's maintenance records against FAA requirements: different inspection programs and non-approved parts are the most common causes of delay.

Step 2: Get an inspection in country

Inspect the aircraft where it sits, before money moves. A conformity review by a shop familiar with imports will identify parts traceability gaps, missing 8130-3 forms, and AD compliance issues while you still have negotiating leverage.

Step 3: Deregistration and the FAA registry

The aircraft cannot be registered in the United States until the exporting authority issues a deregistration certificate. Reserve your N-number in advance, prepare the registration application, bill of sale, and any trust or LLC documents, and coordinate timing so there is no gap in registration.

Step 4: Customs and duty

File the required customs entry, confirm duty treatment for the aircraft's origin, and use a broker experienced with aircraft. Personal-use imports and commercial imports are handled differently, and errors here are expensive to unwind.

Step 5: Ferry permits and insurance

A special flight permit is often required to reposition the aircraft. Line up ferry insurance, an experienced ferry pilot, oceanic or overwater equipment if applicable, and realistic weather windows. Do not compress the schedule to save a few days.

Step 6: Airworthiness certificate and the first inspection

Once registered, an FAA-designated airworthiness representative issues the standard airworthiness certificate. Budget for a comprehensive first inspection and expect to correct items that were acceptable under the previous authority but not under Part 43.

Realistic timeline and budget

Plan on 45 to 120 days from signed agreement to a flying, US-registered aircraft, and budget for escrow, customs broker, ferry costs, conformity work, and the first annual. Rushing any of those steps is what turns a good deal into a bad one.

We have managed imports and exports across the Americas and Europe. If you are looking at an aircraft abroad, call before you sign anything.