What is the difference between a ferry permit and a special flight permit?
In FAA language they are the same document: a special flight permit, often called a ferry permit, authorises an aircraft that does not currently meet all airworthiness requirements to fly to a place where it can be repaired, altered, stored or delivered. It is separate from overflight and landing permits, which are diplomatic clearances issued by each state on the route.
Key takeaways
- A special flight permit covers airworthiness, not airspace access
- Overflight and landing permits are per state and have their own lead times
- Permit limitations shape the route, the crew brief and the weather minima
- Non-FAA registries issue their own equivalents with different evidence requirements
Two different pieces of paper
The most common confusion in a ferry project is treating airworthiness approval and airspace approval as one process. They are separate, they are issued by different bodies, and they fail for different reasons.
- Special flight permit or ferry permit: issued by the state of registry authority, allows a non-conforming aircraft to fly a defined route
- Overflight permit: issued by each state whose airspace you transit
- Landing permit: issued by the state where you intend to land, including tech stops
- Customs and immigration clearance: separate again, arranged with the handler at each stop
What limitations to expect
A permit is granted with conditions, and those conditions are the real planning constraint. Common ones include crew only on board, no revenue payload, day VFR operation, a maximum altitude, a maximum airspeed, gear down flight or a restriction on operating over congested areas and open water.
Each of those changes the route. A gear down ferry burns far more fuel and adds tech stops. A day VFR restriction removes the overnight departure that would otherwise have made the crew duty plan work.
Lead times that catch people out
Overflight permits in parts of Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East regularly need five to ten working days, and some states will not process an application without a confirmed handling agent and a sponsor letter. A permit application refused on a Thursday afternoon can cost a full week.
We apply for permits in parallel with the maintenance sign-off rather than after it, so the paperwork and the airframe become ready on the same day.
Registry differences
N registered aircraft follow the FAA special flight permit path. Irish, Isle of Man, Guernsey, San Marino and Bermuda registered aircraft each have their own equivalent, with different evidence requirements around maintenance status, insurance and the qualifications of the crew making the flight.
Common questions
Last reviewed May 18, 2026 by the Super Universal operations desk.