I'm a professional ferry pilot available for North-Atlantic ferry flights and aircraft delivery to Europe / USA. I can provide all necessary services for safe and expedient North-Atlantic ferry flights, including:
- Ferry pilot / safety pilot.
- Ferry tank installation.
- Required survival gear.
- HF radio.
- Ferry flight insurance.
The east coast of Greenland, near Kulusuk
Atlantic ferry flights - general information.
Atlantic ferry flights in general aviation aircraft require specific planning and expertise. The most obvious challenges are the weather, distance between airports, communication and navigation, regulatory requirements and insurance.
Atlantic ferry flight routes.
In general aviation aircraft, you can cross the Atlantic either via Greenland and Iceland (the Northern route) or via the Azores to Portugal (the Southern route). Along the Northern route there are several options for fuel stops in Greenland and Iceland. See the section on Atlantic ferry flight routes for more detail.
Airplane ferry tank installation.
Aircraft with at least 800 nautical mile range can safely cross the North-Atlantic without ferry tank. For Atlantic crossings in aircraft with less than 800 nm range, ferry tanking is the best option. A ferry tank with FAA and Transport Canada approval can be installed in Bangor, usually in 1-2 days. See the section on airplane ferry tanking for more information.
Survival gear for Atlantic ferry flights
There are specific requirements for survival gear to be carried during Atlantic ferry flights, including carriage of a life raft and immersion suits. I'm not sure if it's a legal requirement, but I also carry at least 1 EPIRB (personal ELT) and a satellite phone. There are additional survival gear requirements for crossing the Greenland icecap.
Putting on my immersion suit in Kuujjuaq, Canada
Atlantic ferry flight cost
Expenses for Atlantic ferry flights vary depending on the type airplane and final destination. For a typical single-engine airplane delivery from the US to Europe, airplane expenses are currently around $11,000 - $13,000.
Please contact me for a no-obligation quote for your airplane and destination. I will gladly provide an estimate of all expenses, including:
- Fuel
- Ferry tank installation (if needed)
- Handling
- Trip kits (paper charts and GPS dbase updates if required)
- Survival gear: life raft, immersion suit(s), EPIRB, etc.
- HF radio (if needed) and satphone rental
- Travel: hotels and return airline ticket
I charge actual expenses incurred, itemized at the end of the trip.
Some Atlantic crossing resources:
- North Atlantic IGA manual - the official manual.
- Bob Webster's flying to Europe page.
- Polar Pilots - info on flying in Canada's Eastern Artic.
- Far North Aviation - handling agent in Wick (EGPC), rents survival gear.