Definition
A ferry permit is a special flight authorization, issued by the FAA, that allows an aircraft which does not currently meet airworthiness requirements to be flown to a location where repairs, maintenance, or storage can be performed. It is granted under specific conditions and limitations that make the flight safe despite the aircraft's non-airworthy status.
Plain English
Permission from the FAA to fly an aircraft that isn't currently legal to fly, so you can move it somewhere to be fixed.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft airworthiness, maintenance, inspection, and aircraft certification discussions.
Derivation
The word ferry here comes from the old sense of carrying something across — the same root as a boat ferry. In aviation, a ferry flight is one made simply to reposition an aircraft, not to carry passengers or cargo for normal operations. A permit is the written permission to do so.
Why Pilots Care
Allows an aircraft that would otherwise be grounded to be moved legally so maintenance or inspections can be performed.
Intuition Check
Do not read ferry permits as general permission to keep flying an aircraft with a problem. They are limited approvals for a specific flight and purpose.
Example Sentence 1
After the annual inspection lapsed, the owner obtained a ferry permit to fly the airplane to a maintenance shop two states away.
Example Sentence 2
After the annual inspection expired, a ferry permit was required before the aircraft could be relocated.