(re)Importing from Canada question

[Robert C.]

Hi Everyone,

 

My current short list has a Canada based Ovation so I've been wondering about what is involved in repatriating a currently Canadian registered aircraft. I've looked at the AOPA guide/write-up on importing aircraft so have some sense of what is involved. Intimidating but doable from the looks of it.

 

Do any of you have 1st hand experiences with importing? If so, then any words of advice or recommendations?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Robert

 

PS: thank you all who are contributing to the PPI thread. That is likely to come in handy this summer I hope

[Guest]

Hi Robert,

While I've imported far more aircraft than I've exported, the process should be similar. The aircraft will have to meet the FAA type certificate and be in current annual for importation. I would suggest going to the FSDO office with your A&P and confirming the process with them to be sure the plane conforms.

In Canada we use a document called the MSI 26 which covers the process. FAA must have something similar as a guide line.

Clarence

[DAVIDWH]

Never been through that experience, but as my friend would say when dealing with FAA,  "The juice is not worth the squeezing ".

 

From a purely personal , and time wise stand point, I would keep looking South of the border.

 

Found my Ovation in Cleveland on Thursday and flew her home to New Orleans on Friday.

 

Case closed.

[orionflt]

David,

It all depends on what orange grove your squeezing your juice in, I believe (and Clarence can correct me) that Canada not only wants all AD's complied with but service bulletins also. Either way if the plane was well maintained in Canada and is currently airworthy it should just be a matter of showing everything is in order and having an airworthiness inspection completed by a FAA rep. I agree the FAA can be a pain to deal with and some FSDO's are better then others but if the FAA is finding issues making it difficult to import you probably don't want it anyway.

 

Brian 

 

Robert, 

I would make passing the FAA inspection and issuance of a US airworthy cert part of the purchase agreement. 

[Robert C.]

David (and others): did you find your Ovation via Controller/Trade-a-Plane? Or through networking and a broker? Have been wondering if there are many more planes available than what I see on Controller.com

 

Thx

 

Robert

[TTaylor]

It is not fun any more.

 

1. Make sure you have all the correct paperwork (export docs from Canada) and aircraft documents.

2. Make sure all US AD's have been complied with and documented.

3. Expect to pay $1000 or more to have a US FAA designee check all the paperwork and sign it off.

 

Last few years it has become a considerable amount of work and time to import from Canada or elsewhere.

 

I have seen two ships take over six months to get through the process.

[carusoam]

All American has two Os listed on Controller...

This is normal for them....

Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Best regards,

-a-

[carusoam]

http://www.controller.com/list/list.aspx?pcid=17527&etid=1&dlr=1&setype=1

AAA. Can be found here....

[Steve Dawson]

Hey Robert,

Here's a link to the FAA site about importing back into the US.

 

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...international/

 

I think I'd look for someone or shop that has done this before to stop any inexperience problems. Maybe do a  google search to see if you can find an IA with experience also.

The AOPA should be able to help also.

 

Just curious, where in Canada are you importing the plane from? If it's near Toronto you could also ask Weber's in Pennsylvania.
 

[Robert C.]

Thanks Steve, Andrew.

 

I've been following Controller and the AAA listings carefully. My 1st choice would be a O2-DX off which there are only 2 listed. One near Calgary and the other in TX. The one in Texas has a decidedly dodgy damage history with a gear-up and one or 2 prop strikes of which one where the engine tear down was declined. Logs I was able to find online seem incomplete.

 

The one in Calgary would require the import process which I'm nervous about. I'll call the agent on Monday and find out if they have facilitated an export before. Maybe if they can handle it end-to-end I'd be willing to take a good hard look.

 

So if any of you know of a good condition 2004 -DX for sale that isn't on Controller, send me a PM and let me know

 

Robert

[Guest]

Robert,

There is a Mooney service centre in Calgary, they should be able to help you with an export and import.

Clarence

[carusoam]

What is your preference for the O2-DX driven by?

G1000?

Just wondering,

-a-

[yvesg]

Due to the current exchange rate, Canadian aircraft would cost less in US dollars. This difference would definitely compensate for the incurred extra fees.

Yves

[Robert C.]

Andrew,

 

DX, so it won't have the G1000 suite (i.e. not a GX).  I want to avoid the G1000 given the uncertainties surrounding the upgrade path.

 

DX, also because of the panel that is 2" lower than on the pre-2004 models.

 

Robert

 

 

 

 

What is your preference for the O2-DX driven by?

G1000?

Just wondering,

-a-