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If you don't know what a ferry flight or empty flight is, In this installment I explain this concept that is very common in aviation and that happens very often.
In recent times I have used more than once the expression: "that plane is coming on a ferry flight" which has generated more than one query among blog readers and followers on social networks, That is why I found it pertinent to generate a post dedicated to this expression.
In aviation there are many special terms, there is even a dictionary, yes aviation has a dictionary with terms, phrases and words that would not be commonly used in daily life, but if within the industry.
This space is intended for all of us to learn, so let's get down to business.
Ferry flight or empty
Ferry can be coldly translated as "transport" or "carry" into Spanish., but its non-literal translation is that it is an empty flight (does not mean that the plane flies itself).
The exact definition is as follows:
A flight whose purpose is to (1) return an aircraft to base; (2) deliver an aircraft from one place to another; (3) move an aircraft to and from a maintenance base and (4) others. The ferry flights, Under some conditions, may be performed under the terms of a special flight permit. They do not carry paying passengers.
In simple terms, a ferry flight is one where a plane goes totally empty, but yes and obviously, with your cabin crew at hand, cabin of passengers it is included maintenance technicians and technicians as appropriate.
Types of ferry flights
An empty flight to more of the cases already mentioned, they can also have other purposes that I detail below:
- Empty flights for humanitarian transfers.
- Flights to repatriate citizens.
- Change from one airport to another to fulfill an itinerary.
- Transfer of plane due to diversion of the aircraft.
- Transfer of the plane to cover cancellations.
- Return flight to the owner of the aircraft.
- And more.
I hope you have enjoyed this reading and if you want to know or learn more about any aeronautical term in particular, let me know in the comments or networks ;).
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Hello there, what you define as a ferry flight is actually a positional or transfer flight. The ferry flight is when the aircraft has its airworthiness qualities impaired for some reason and to be carried out it needs special permissions from the manufacturer and the relevant authority.. Of course, no auxiliary crew, only the necessary technicians.
Hello Jose, thank you for your contribution to this publication.
Hello there, to add one more comment to what has already been explained, It is known as a "ferry flight" specifically and technically when the flight is carried out with an "Open Note in the Aircraft Log" and is Authorized by the Manufacturer and is used exclusively when the problem cannot be resolved at the Station that is found because it requires being authorized for an FC or 2 until you reach your final destination, The other flights are known as “Transfer only”.
Thanks Mark for the explanation., there are details that perhaps in the translation of coming from English is lost or confused. When reading the definition of "ferry" in English, says that it is all those flights without passengers or non-commercial, where for example "transfer flight" or "positioning" are a type of ferry flight.
There are some tweaks to the theme.
Indeed, a ferry flight, It is a flight in NON-COMMERCIAL operation and with the aeronautical technical staff (Pilots and mechanics) on board.
But no flights for humanitarian stove transfers like appointments.
hence the question:
What is a Special Flight and what is a Concentration Flight?
The last types of flight I had never heard of. you have the definition?
Ferry flight is the journey or journeys made by an aircraft to position said aircraft at a given airport and which is carried out without passengers and/or cargo.
For example, this term applies to the delivery of an aircraft to an airline by the manufacturer., maintenance center or other airline, also for charter flights in which passengers or cargo are transported only one way or return, etc.
In the case stated by Nicolás regarding the transfer of the aircraft by diversion, it only applies if the journey is made without passengers or without cargo..
Correct, thanks Jairo.
Good evening, actually even in the different areas of the airport there is a very liberal use for that term Ferry, but the correct use of the Ferry flight is that only the Manufacturer authorizes it and the Operator requests it, and it is exclusively when there is an open Note in the Book of the Plane, when this expression has been misused and it has been said that a flight leaves Ferry when in fact it leaves only for a transfer, This has caused inconveniences in the maintenance area since it is understood by ferry that the plane comes to stay in the hangar to solve the problem that it brings, and there the detail and problem caused by misusing the expression Ferry x Transfer
as far as i know, a ferry flight, it is a flight of an aircraft that has suffered damage and/or malfunction at an airport that does not have facilities, but that does not affect the airworthiness to make a flight for once, authorized by the competent body.
In the case of moving an aircraft from one point to another and it has no faults or within the MEL, It's called "transfer flight"
Ferry flight has several categories or uses if we can call it, as you indicate.
I would like you to explain what would have happened with passengers who are not received in Ecuador, as was about to happen with the passengers who arrived on United. If they were returned, the other country they came from should receive them or because they were Ecuadorians they had no obligation to do so..
you have to receive them, despite the fact that his arrival was unexpected. The point is that Ecuadorians will be able to arrive, but protocols are needed.
Excellent. It may or may not apply, but several Cuban citizens are stranded in Ecuador and others in different countries and we are requesting a ferry from our consulates.. Thanks for the input.
sure they can.
They could publish information for medical transport of patients with infectious diseases. Regulation , documentation , etc. Thanks
Interesing theme, I'm going to see what's in the regulation
I recommend contacting companies specialized in this service., as an air ambulance.