Airlines can get single-flight ferry permits for a whole lot of maintenance problems that would preclude carrying paying passengers.
Of course, the plane still has to be in pretty good shape to cross oceans. For that, there’s a whole cottage industry of globe hopping mechanics that bring themselves and their tools to the planes to get them good enough to limp to a maintenance base.
As an example, can’t raise the landing gear? No problem. Just fly the whole trip with the gear down and don’t go over 10,000 feet or 200 knots.
speedtapefilms on YouTube is a pretty good introduction to the life of an international ferry pilot.
Airlines can get single-flight ferry permits for a whole lot of maintenance problems that would preclude carrying paying passengers.
Of course, the plane still has to be in pretty good shape to cross oceans. For that, there’s a whole cottage industry of globe hopping mechanics that bring themselves and their tools to the planes to get them good enough to limp to a maintenance base.
As an example, can’t raise the landing gear? No problem. Just fly the whole trip with the gear down and don’t go over 10,000 feet or 200 knots.
speedtapefilms on YouTube is a pretty good introduction to the life of an international ferry pilot.