Bringing an aircraft from Spain

[Ian Hoolahan]

Just looking at an aircraft in Spain - it does not have a current annual and wondering if anyone has experience here and what might be involved in getting it to the UK.

[P5151]

Ian

Since no one else has given you an answer I will attempt to help.

A lot depends on whether the aircraft is on which is already on the LAA fleet. If it is not then a great deal of work is involved and probably not worth the effort given the amount of aircraft for sale in the UK on Afors.

If it is on the UK fleet it would need to be inspected to verifify it's build standard and airworthiness, lots of French Jodels came to the UK an more recently RV!s.

If I were considering buying anywhere abroad I would get an inspector with extensive experience on type to look it over before I bought and shipped to the UK, I would not rely on foreign inspections. I know a number of people who have paid a lot of money for scrap by doing this.

[Ian Hoolahan]

P5151, thanks for that.
It is a type on the LAA list and we have a suitable inspector who is very familiar with type. Assuming it fits the bill, ideally we would get an annual done there and fly it back then continue to fly it on the Spanish register through the summer, getting it onto the LAA register during the winter, any idea how practical this is, also how long to get it on the LAA register?

[P5151]

Hi

That is a bit more complicated. I assume its Spanish Registered? What is it BTW.

Steve

[Ian Hoolahan]

RV4

[Mark A]

Unless you want to take the wings off and trailer it back, it would make most sense to get it back in annual on its current registration, arrange insurance and fly it back.
It's not practical to get a UK permit initial issue while abroad.

I would also make sure that it doesn't deviate significantly from plans, complies with all relevant SBs and is of good build quality.

[Ian Hoolahan]

If we buy it that is pretty much the plan ATM, and hopefully continue flying it like that until the winter. Does anyone know what the VAT on import situation is for this?

[P5151]

Hi Ian


You really need someone who has built a 4 to look at that. 3,4 and 6's are actually built not assembled like all the modern pre punched kits. I have built a 4 and assembled a 9, it's a lot easier to get something wrong on a 4. A member recently bought a 4 from the USA which was inspected by an American AE. It had to be scrapped it was so badly built.

He is now building a 4.

All the best

[Ian Hoolahan]

Thanks,

Yes i have heard the horror stories of aircraft from the USA and why we are not even looking there! The inspector we would hope to,send down is VERY knowledgable on Vans aircraft and is also who we would have sorting it onto the LAA register ao hopefully no problems there.

[Paul Catanach]

I just got home this afternoon having flown an aircraft from Spain to the UK. I'll be finding out very soon how easy the process of transferring to the UK register and obtaining a Permit may or may not be. My LAA inspector has done some groundwork with Engineering though so hopefully it won't hurt too much.

[Harry Hopkins]

The answer will be of interest to many of us so please let us know how it goes. Good luck and best wishes,

Harry

[Ian Hoolahan]

Paul,

Had the VAT already been paid on the one you brought back? The one we are looking at apparently has not had VAT paid so presumably that will need paying if we bring it into the UK?

[Paul Catanach]

As a homebuild I assume VAT was paid on the timber, brackets, fabric etc.

[Ian Hoolahan]

timber, fabric

On an RV??

[Paul Catanach]

I never said I'd bought an RV.