In this post lets discuss aircraft redelivery in simple terms.
A Redelivery is where a lessee is required to return the aircraft at the expiry of the lease to its lessor. The conditions under which the aircraft must be returned are outlined in the Redelivery Conditions.
Why is it required?
- Next Operator Integration
- Value Retention
- Ease of Marketing Aircraft for lease/sale
Typical Process
- Redelivery Planning – 12 months in advance
- Lessor / Lessee meeting
- Reviewing redelivery conditions
- Reviewing records
- Lessee - Planning and engagement of redelivery service providers (MRO, Records, Paint)
- Engagement of next lessee
- Commencement of records assembly
Redelivery Execution
- Commencement of maintenance checks – airframe, engines, landing gear, APU, components
- Audit of records to meet redelivery conditions – Open Items List
- Audit of the airframe physical condition
- Paint
Final Process
- Update and close of open items on maintenance and records
- Final review by lessor
- Review by Aviation Authority
- Demonstration Flight, MPA Runs and Functions/Systems checks
- Borescope Inspections
- Sign off by Aviation Authority and Lessor – issuance of export certification of airworthiness and technical acceptance certificate
What are typical redelivery conditions? Please note the redelivery conditions may change and depend on the lease type, duration, operator, lessor, jurisdiction, A/C type, type of operations and etc…
Maintenance Checks:
Airframe
- The Aircraft will be fresh from a block C Check or equivalent check (including all lesser checks) in accordance with the MPD, with all items cleared for the equivalent of one C Check interval (at least 7,500 Flight Hours, 5,000 Cycles and 24 months as applicable).
Engines
- Each Engine will have no less than 4,500 Flight Hours and sufficient Cycles on-condition life remaining to the next anticipated Engine Performance Restoration
- No Engine Life Limited Part shall have less than 3,000 Cycles scheduled life remaining.
- The APU shall be serviceable and have not more than 3,000 APU operating hours since last APU Overhaul.
Landing Gear
- The Landing Gear shall have no less than 24 months and 5,000 Cycles life remaining to next scheduled Landing Gear Overhaul. Each individual tyre, wheel and brake will have no less than half (50%) of its useful life remaining.
Components
- Airframe hard time and life limited components shall have not less than 7,500 Flight Hours, 5,000 Cycles or 24 months (or 100% life, if less), as applicable, of life remaining in accordance with the MPD.
- No Part will have total Flight Hours, total Cycles and total calendar time since new greater than one hundred ten per cent (110%) of that of the Airframe and, with respect to all Parts as a group, the Parts will have an average total time since new no greater than that of the Airframe.
Paint
- The Aircraft, including fuselage, empennage, wings, nacelles, and pylons shall be freshly stripped and painted in such external livery as advised by Lessor.
Airworthiness Directives
- Lessee shall have accomplished on a terminating action basis all outstanding ADs and mandatory orders requiring compliance (i) prior to the Redelivery Date; and (ii) within 24 months and equivalent Flight Hours and Cycles (based on the Assumed Ratio and Assumed Utilisation) after the Redelivery Date.
Repairs
- All repairs to the Aircraft, Engines and Parts will have been accomplished and certified to a permanent standard, with no repeat inspection requirements (unless there is no terminating repair available from the Manufacturer), in accordance with Manufacturer's published manuals, or Manufacturer’s approved written instruction for the Aircraft.
Records and Certification compliance
- Redelivery ‘Bible’ o FAR 121 Compliance / EU-Ops
- The Aircraft shall be in a condition suitable for issuance of an [FAA / EASA] certificate of airworthiness in the applicable category and shall meet the regulatory requirements for immediate entry into service with a [FAR 121 / EU Ops 1] operator for the commercial transport of passengers.
- Configuration - The Aircraft shall be in the same configuration as at Delivery or as otherwise acceptable to Lessor.
- Weight and Thrust - Same as delivery or other may be specified
- Export C of A - The Aircraft shall have a currently valid Export Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the Aviation Authority.
Final Inspection
- System and Function test - Ground checks and system checks, engine runs
- Demonstration Flight - a demonstration flight of at least 2 hours duration (following Manufacturer’s acceptance procedures) at Lessee’s cost
- Borescope Inspection of Engines and APU - Takes place following demonstration flight