Importing an Aircraft From the U.S. Into Australia: CASA Requirements, Shipping and GST
Australian buyers have long looked to the U.S. for aircraft, and the logic is simple: the U.S. market for popular types such as the Cessna 182, Beechcraft Bonanza and Cirrus SR22 is many times larger, so there is more choice of year, equipment and condition. To import an aircraft from the USA to Australia, though, you face a longer journey than buyers in Canada or Europe. Most piston singles are shipped rather than flown, then reassembled, inspected, registered on the Australian register and certified before they fly. GST is paid at the border.
This guide covers the order that works, what CASA and the Australian Border Force require, what shipping involves and where Australian imports most often run into trouble.
Before You Buy
CASA’s guidance for importers starts with a question every buyer should answer before committing: can the airplane meet Australian certification and safety requirements?
- Type acceptance. The type must be certified by CASA or accepted from a recognized foreign authority. Established types such as the Cirrus SR20, SR22 and SR22T are well known in Australia, but confirm the specific model and serial number.
- Modifications. CASA warns that overseas modifications may not meet Australian standards and that missing documents can delay or prevent approval. List every STC and Form 337 alteration and confirm each is acceptable.
- Airworthiness directives. Australia’s published import requirements call for compliance with all applicable FAA ADs before the U.S. export certificate is issued, with the next due point shown for recurring ADs. Australian ADs then apply once the airplane is on the Australian register.
- Equipment. Aircraft operating under IFR in Australia need ADS-B Out, and a 406 MHz ELT registered in Australia is expected. Most Garmin-equipped Cirrus aircraft have suitable equipment, but confirm the installation meets Australian requirements.
- An Australian maintainer or delegate. CASA suggests having a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer or a certificate of airworthiness delegate assess the airplane before you commit. Engage them before the U.S. pre-buy.
Our guide to buying an aircraft in the U.S. from overseas covers the purchase itself.
Step by Step
1. Export certificate and U.S. paperwork
Australia accepts the FAA Export Certificate of Airworthiness, Form 8130-4. According to Australia’s published requirements, an imported airplane will normally need either a recent U.S. export certificate or a U.S. standard airworthiness certificate. Most buyers obtain the export certificate as part of the U.S. inspection. The FAA registration is cancelled for export and the U.S. customs export filing made before the airplane leaves. Our guide to exporting an aircraft from the U.S. covers these steps.
2. Ship or fly
The Pacific crossing starts with roughly 2,100 nautical miles from California to Hawaii, so most piston singles are disassembled and shipped in a container. Allow several weeks to two months door to door. Use a shipping company that has packed the type before, insure the airplane as cargo and photograph it thoroughly before disassembly. Our guide to ferrying or shipping an aircraft overseas explains the process, including the handling of a Cirrus parachute system’s rocket motor during shipping.
3. Customs, GST and biosecurity
According to the Australian Border Force, aircraft have a free rate of customs duty, but GST is payable unless an exemption applies. GST is 10% of the value of the taxable importation, which includes the customs value plus international transport and insurance. An import declaration must be lodged, and the airplane cannot be released until GST is paid and biosecurity requirements are met. Wood packaging and the container itself must meet biosecurity rules, so the shipping company should handle them. An airplane flown in must land at a designated international airport and make the required arrival reports.
4. Reassembly and inspection
A shipped airplane is reassembled, rigged and inspected by appropriately licensed engineers. This is also when any work needed to meet Australian requirements is done, and when the airplane is test flown once its paperwork allows.
5. Registration
Register the airplane on the Australian civil aircraft register. CASA notes that registration can be delayed if the airplane has no data plate or is still on another country’s register, so make sure the FAA cancellation is complete and documented. The new VH- registration brings a new Mode S address, so the transponder and ADS-B equipment must be reprogrammed and the ELT recoded and registered for Australia.
6. Certificate of airworthiness
The airplane needs an Australian certificate of airworthiness before it can fly on its VH- registration, issued by CASA or an authorised delegate after confirming the airplane conforms to its accepted type design, its modifications are approved and it is airworthy. Most Australian piston aircraft also need a noise certificate.
How Long It Takes
For a shipped piston single, three to four months from purchase to flying on Australian registration is realistic: a few weeks for the U.S. export and packing, several weeks to two months in transit and clearance, then reassembly, registration and certification. Modifications that need approval and gaps in the records are the usual causes of delay, which is why the Australian engineer’s review should happen before purchase.
A Landed-Cost Example
An illustrative example for a private buyer importing a used SR22T, in U.S. dollars. These are not quotes. Shipping costs in particular move with global freight markets.
| Item | Illustrative cost |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $550,000 |
| Pre-buy, export inspection and U.S. paperwork | $10,000 |
| Disassembly, packing, freight, cargo insurance and reassembly | $45,000 |
| GST at 10% on about $595,000 value of taxable importation | $59,500 |
| Registration, inspection, certificate of airworthiness and recoding | $10,000 |
| Landed cost before any equipment changes | about $675,000 |
A GST-registered business importing the airplane for its enterprise may be able to claim the GST back. Confirm the treatment with a tax advisor before the import declaration is lodged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you pay GST on an aircraft imported into Australia?
Yes, unless an exemption applies. Aircraft have a free rate of customs duty, but GST of 10% is payable on the value of the taxable importation, which includes international transport and insurance.
Are aircraft from the U.S. flown or shipped to Australia?
Most piston singles are shipped in containers, because the Pacific legs are beyond their normal range. Long-range aircraft are usually flown.
Can any U.S. aircraft be registered in Australia?
The type must be certified by CASA or accepted from a recognized foreign authority, and modifications must meet Australian requirements. Have an Australian engineer or certificate of airworthiness delegate assess the airplane before you buy.
How long does it take to import an aircraft from the USA to Australia?
For a shipped piston single, commonly three to four months from purchase to flying on VH- registration, including shipping, clearance, reassembly, registration and certification.
The Bottom Line
Importing an aircraft from the USA to Australia takes longer than most imports, mainly because of shipping, but the process is well established. Involve an Australian engineer before purchase, confirm modifications and AD status, budget for shipping and 10% GST, and make sure the U.S. deregistration is complete before the airplane arrives.
Aerista helps Australian buyers with every step on the U.S. side, from the search and records review through the pre-buy, closing, export and shipping, working with your Australian engineer and shipping company. Tell us what you are looking for, or browse the Aerista showroom.