Exporting Aircraft Properly – Forethought & Experience Required
Expert Tips to Avoid Costs and Delays
The Slow-Down:
As of Q3, 2024 customs brokers have seen an uptick on the export front – especially in the southeast USA sector, where Customs and Border Protection (CBP) response times have slowed the export departure approvals, to what now amounts to a 72-hour cooling off period after export filing has been approved through the Automated Export System (AES). Certain CBP offices may not even review export documents, until 3 days after the date stamp imbedded in the Internal Transaction Number (ITN). This is the 14-digit number that confirms that the Electronic Export Information (EEI) has been accepted by the Automated Export System (AES).
Expectation vs Reality:
While this is not the case at all airports, more CBP offices are adopting the practice as a matter of process. These delays are contrary to the general guidance of CBP in Washington DC that advises private aircraft exports only need to have completed their AES filing, obtained an ITN, and filed for a proper departure using the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS).
Locate an Amenable Departure Location:
Select airport CBP operations are still maintaining the DC guidance regarding private aircraft exports, however most others will still require the operator, or PIC operating the aircraft, to present themselves with document for review. Notably it is this document review that is witnessing delays by some airports.
Leverage Available Expertise:
These are just a few reasons why it is important that operators, utilizing the services of a customs broker or forwarder for export processing of their private aircraft, must be confident their agent is familiar with the intricacies of private aircraft exports. Equally important is seeking out those same knowledgeable agents as operators when routing their departure. It is in their best interests to use a CBP departure airport that is not adversarial but aligns with their departure goals. All the factors discussed here go toward avoiding costly delays in delivering their aircraft to a foreign locale.