A delivery is decided long before the ferry flight. Records, engine trends, and the punch list tell you whether the aircraft will hand over on schedule or slide a week. This article collects the checks our engineers run before wheels-up on any delivery or redelivery.
Records first, aircraft second
Physical condition is easy to inspect on site. Records problems surface late and cost the most. Confirm the status of ADs, SBs, and component back-to-birth traceability before you commit to a delivery date. The inspection scope exists exactly for this.
The five checks that matter
- AD status versus effective dates, not versus compliance claims.
- LLP traceability back to birth for every life-limited part.
- Open MiC and MEL items with their correction timelines.
- Engine trend deltas across the last three shop visits.
- Weight and balance report matching the current cabin configuration.
Where deliveries usually slip
| Slip cause | Typical delay | Prevented by |
|---|---|---|
| Records gap | 5 to 14 days | Records review at acceptance |
| Open punch items | 2 to 7 days | On-site punch-list closure |
| Spare availability | 3 to 10 days | Pre-booked AOG support |
The aircraft that delivers on time is the one whose paperwork was closed before the crew showed up.
Foxtrot delivery engineering team
Bringing it together
Treat the delivery like a project with one accountable engineering owner, and the schedule holds. If you want a second set of eyes on an upcoming transition, talk to us before the records review, not after.