Buying Aircrafts on USA, What to do....

[Guest jimhazeltonaviation]

Hello everybody,

 

As promised on my introduction post, I compiled a easy step-by-step tutorial about importing aircrafts from the USA.

 

To make it simple, I divided it in steps.

 

1st – Find a machine, contact the seller, make the deal arrangements, get somebody to check the machine for you.

 

Once you have checked the machine, and if you are happy with it, make an offer on it.

 

By this point, you can engage somebody in order to perform a Pre-Buy inspection on the machine (normally requires a 10.000$ deposit).

 

2nd – Put the funds in a Escrow account,

 

3rd – When pre-buy inspection complete, and if you are happy with it, you can authorize the payment from the Escrow account,

 

4th – Once payment completed, you can strike the machine from USA register. As soon as CASA receive strike from FAA, you can register VH- with CASA.

 

5th – Engage a maintenance workshop to issue a Ferry Permit with long range tank. (Rubber cell collapsible tank is highly recommended)

 

Approximate cost of all paper work is around 1500$ – 2000$ AUD

 

6th – Engage a ferry company to prepare the machine in USA (fitting the AUX. ferry tank, HF radio, Survival equipment… etc…). (Assuming that you are ferrying the machine yourself, if you want, you can engage the company to ferry it as well).

 

7th – Get the aircraft in Hollister, and engage somebody to arrange the required clearances for you.(make sure that you have fuel available on your stops.)

 

8th – Engage a customs agent in Australia, in order to arrange the importation paperwork. You will have to pay 10% GST, at arrival to Australia.

 

My recommended procedure to do this is by sending the completed entry papers to the customs officer at Lord Howe Island (recommended entry point). Make sure that you send the paperwork in advance. This will make the entry/customs clearances go smoothly.

 

9th – Engage a maintenance workshop in order to finish all the paperwork with CASA.

 

 

Basically, that’s all you have to do…

 

Now, a few advices gained on a few years of experience…

 

Watch very careful the weather forecast for your route. Once you leave Hollister, the nearest landing point is Hilo – Hawaii. That’s 2000 NM. Establish your non return point, and the distance that you have to go. 30 minutes to your non return point, if you think that you won’t make it, just turn around. You don’t want to go for a drink on the pacific…..

 

For me… the rule is : more than 20 knots headwind = NO GO.

 

(normally the forecasts never match what you really find. For example, if they forecast 10 knots’, you will easily find 20 or 25 knots.

 

Another thing is never fly at nighttime. First, you need to rest, second, if you have to go for a drink, you can’t see the swells on the sea. That will make the difference between a smooth ditching or a not-so-smooth one.

 

Another important thing, If you have contracted a ferry company, normally their quote doesn’t cover the ferry insurance. This costs normally 2% of the sale price, with 1% return based on a no-claim policy.

 

Certainly, I’m sure that you have more questions. Just contact me or send me a email.

 

Hope this was useful.

 

 

Regards,

 

Jim

 

 

 

[Guest raggy]

good advice can i add please from the eyes of the LAME that will c/o your COA in AUS

 

1 use your head...if seems to good to be true it often is.

 

2 a 30 year old aircraft that has a squeeky clean log book history dosent add up.

 

3 are ALL the log books with the aircraft and i mean ALL if not this can make the process very expensive to the point of even scraping your new toy.

 

4 i have seen people doctor log books for overseas owners ex usa. one i did this year the new owner flew it from USA to AUS to be told the props were out of hours both engines were expired on calender time. its not worth the pain. A CoA (cert or approval) is a long and complex process for the person conducting it and expensive for the person paying the bill. choose wise very wise...last but not least have an ENGINEER WITH KNOWLAGE ON THE TYPE even if you and him go and have a look yourself its worth the extra cost) do the pre-buy inspection NEVER a pilot, owner or any person that has had ANY thing to do with the aircraft or its seller etc

 

thanks

 

Andrew