Ferry Pilot Jobs: Requirements, Pay, and How to Get Started
Last updated July 3, 2026
Ferry pilot jobs let you build flight hours by delivering and repositioning aircraft — flying cross-country legs, often in a variety of aircraft, for owners, dealers, and operators. For a flexible low-time pilot, ferry and aircraft delivery work can be a rewarding way to build time toward 1,500 and log diverse experience. Here's what ferry pilot requirements typically look like and how to get started.
Quick requirements snapshot
- Certificate
- Commercial Pilot Certificate often preferred or required for paid ferry work
- Ratings
- Instrument rating commonly preferred; multi-engine, tailwheel, complex, high-performance, or aircraft-specific experience may help
- Typical total time
- Varies widely; often 500–1,000+ hours depending on aircraft and distance
- Common aircraft
- Cessna 172/182, Piper aircraft, Cirrus, Bonanza, Baron, King Air, various owner aircraft
- Medical
- Second-class FAA medical (commonly required)
- Best for
- Pilots who are flexible, comfortable with travel, and interested in aircraft delivery, repositioning, and cross-country flying
Typical ranges only — requirements vary by operator, aircraft, and insurance.
What ferry pilot jobs actually are
Ferry pilot jobs involve flying an aircraft from one location to another — delivering a newly purchased plane, repositioning a fleet aircraft, or moving an airplane for maintenance or sale. You might fly a wide range of aircraft, often on long cross-country legs.
Ferry flying rewards flexibility, planning, and good decision-making. Because you're often flying unfamiliar aircraft over long distances, it builds broad experience and cross-country time, though the work tends to be irregular rather than a steady schedule.
Typical requirements
Baseline FAA certification aside, exact minimums vary by operator. Here's what these roles commonly ask for.
Certificate requirements
A Commercial Pilot Certificate is often preferred or required for paid ferry work, since you're compensated to fly. Some owner or dealer arrangements vary, but commercial is the common baseline.
Ratings
An instrument rating is commonly preferred for cross-country reliability. Depending on the aircraft, multi-engine, tailwheel, complex, high-performance, or type-specific experience may be needed.
Flight hour expectations
Total time requirements vary widely — often 500 to 1,000+ hours — and are driven heavily by insurance for the specific aircraft, the distance, and the operator or owner.
Aircraft experience
You may ferry anything from a Cessna 172 to a Cirrus, Bonanza, Baron, or King Air. Time in similar aircraft and any complex, high-performance, or multi-engine time strengthens your case and helps with insurance.
Schedule and travel expectations
Ferry work is irregular and travel-heavy — you go where the airplane is and arrange your own way home. Flexibility and availability on short notice are big advantages.
Other employer preferences
Owners and operators value strong flight planning, conservative decision-making, a clean record, and adaptability to different aircraft. Depending on aircraft, insurance, and operator requirements, minimums vary.
Examples of Ferry Pilot Jobs FlyTo1500 Tracks
Below are examples of the kind of ferry pilot jobs FlyTo1500 helps pilots discover. Exact requirements vary by employer, aircraft, insurance minimums, and location.
Ferry Pilot
Cessna 182
500+ hrs · CPL · IFR preferred
Aircraft Delivery Pilot
Cirrus SR22
750+ hrs · CPL · IFR · high-performance
Multi-Engine Ferry Pilot
Beechcraft Baron
1,000+ hrs · CPL · IFR · multi-engine
Example roles shown for illustration. FlyTo1500 tracks real, live openings inside the member job board.
What you may be missing
Common gaps between a low-time logbook and these roles. Closing even one or two can open more openings.
- Need more total time to satisfy aircraft insurance minimums
- Need an instrument rating for reliable cross-country flying
- Need multi-engine time for twin ferry work
- Need complex or high-performance experience for aircraft like the Cirrus or Bonanza
- Need flexibility to travel and self-arrange return trips
- Need specific aircraft or type experience for some deliveries
How this job helps build hours
Ferry pilot jobs build flight hours through long cross-country legs and exposure to many aircraft types, which is why they're a favorite among time building pilot jobs. Each delivery can add meaningful hours and broaden your logbook toward 1,500.
The variety of aircraft and the cross-country experience make you a more capable, adaptable commercial pilot — valuable background as you pursue other commercial pilot jobs.
How to improve your chances
- Keep your logbook current and highlight cross-country time
- Build complex, high-performance, and multi-engine time to unlock more aircraft
- Be flexible and available on short notice
- Emphasize conservative decision-making and flight planning
- Highlight any time in similar aircraft types for insurance
- Set up job alerts and check new openings often
- Network with dealers, owners, and operators
Related pilot job paths
Explore other low-time pilot jobs and how they compare for building hours toward 1,500.
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King Air Pilot Jobs
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Bush Pilot Jobs
Pilots interested in remote, rugged flying, short/soft-field work, and Alaska or backcountry operations
Sources & official references
The requirements here summarize FAA regulations and typical operator practices. Rules change and vary by operation — always confirm current requirements with the FAA and the specific employer.
Frequently asked questions
How many flight hours do you need for ferry pilot jobs?+
It varies widely and is driven mostly by insurance for the specific aircraft. Many ferry pilot jobs look for roughly 500 to 1,000+ hours, with higher time expected for complex, high-performance, or multi-engine aircraft. Requirements depend on the aircraft, distance, and operator.
Do ferry pilots need an instrument rating?+
An instrument rating is commonly preferred, since ferry flights are often long cross-country legs where weather flexibility matters. It isn't always strictly required for simple VFR deliveries, but it broadens the work you can take.
How much do ferry pilots make?+
Ferry pilot pay is usually per-trip or per-mile and varies by aircraft, distance, and operator, and the work is irregular. Because rates shift often, check current listings on FlyTo1500 for up-to-date figures.
Do ferry pilot jobs help you build flight hours?+
Yes. Ferry and aircraft delivery flying adds cross-country time and exposure to many aircraft, making it a solid way to build time toward 1,500 — though it tends to be occasional rather than a steady schedule.
Want to know which jobs you actually qualify for?
FlyTo1500 helps you compare low-time pilot jobs based on your hours, certificates, ratings, and job goals — so you can focus on openings that actually match your logbook.
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