Aircraft Relocation and Ferry Flights

Aircraft ferry flight pricing with Settle Aviation is $75 per hour of flight time. The aircraft owner is responsible for fuel and oil, landing and ramp fees along the route, and the pilot's return travel expenses including transportation and lodging if an overnight stay is required. For example, a 500-nautical-mile ferry flight in a Cessna 172 at 110 knots takes approximately 4.5 hours of flight time, costing $337 in pilot fees. Fuel for that flight at 8 gallons per hour and $6 per gallon averages roughly $216. Return travel from the destination adds $150 to $600 depending on distance. Total cost for a typical in-state Texas ferry flight usually runs $700 to $1,200 all-in, including fuel and return travel. Use the estimator on this page to run your specific numbers.

Settle Aviation ferries single-engine and multi-engine piston aircraft. Common types include Cessna 172, 182, 206, and 210; Piper Cherokee, Archer, Warrior, Arrow, and Seneca; Beechcraft Bonanza and Baron; Mooney M20 series; and similar general aviation types. High-performance singles and light twins are handled on a case-by-case basis depending on currency and checkout requirements. Turbine aircraft and pressurized high-altitude aircraft are outside the current scope of service. For any aircraft type, Settle Aviation requests the aircraft documents, logbooks, and a description of any known squawks before accepting a ferry assignment. Your airplane will be treated as carefully as if it were my own, with honest weather decisions made along the route.

Before a ferry flight, the aircraft must have a current annual inspection, all required airworthiness directives complied with, and valid registration and airworthiness certificates on board. The aircraft documents, including the POH, weight and balance data, and maintenance logbooks, should be accessible for review. Settle Aviation conducts a thorough preflight before departure and notes any squawks found. Known issues that would make the aircraft unairworthy will stop the flight until repairs are made. The owner is responsible for arranging fuel at departure and for reimbursing fuel expenses along the route. A phone conversation before scheduling confirms the aircraft type, route, timeline, and any special considerations. Most ferry flights can be scheduled within one to two weeks of initial contact.