AIRCRAFT IMPORT, EXPORT & CUSTOMS — Done Right

Fast, Compliant, Cost-Efficient

We keep your aircraft moving — without fines, delays, or inflated costs. 24/7. Zero-penalty record. Lean pricing.
Airplane in Clouds

UNDERSTANDING
AIRCRAFT IMPORT,
EXPORT AND CUSTOMS

When you bring an aircraft across the U.S. border—whether it’s being sold into the country, ferried abroad for long-term basing, or transferred to an overseas buyer—Customs treats it like commercial cargo. That means a formal entry on arrival and an AES export filing for any airframe worth more than $2,500 before departure. Valiair prepares and submits every document, so your aircraft clears legally and on time, without penalties or ramp delays.

CBP Entry 01

Formal import declaration
& duty assessment

AES / EEI (ITN)

Electronic export filing that generates the Internal Transaction Number

CBP 7507 & 7509

General Declaration & Cargo Manifest
for both directions
CLARITY IN COMPLEXITY

WHAT SETS US APART

Aviation-only expertise in Aircraft Import, Export & Customs

Zero-penalty compliance precision

Efficient processing to minimize ground time

Coordination with authorities, ferry pilots, shippers, and agents

Efficiency-driven fees—measurably lower than standard brokerage rates

The Risks Are Real—But Avoidable.

Compliance pitfalls, inflated costs, and costly delays plague aircraft transactions.
We solve them—fast, clean, and cost-efficiently.

Your Challenges
How We Solve Them
Compliance pitfalls
Misclassified filings risk fines, blacklists, seizures.
Zero-penalty record
Experts with meticulous documentation & agency ties.
Premium brokerage fees
Brokers charging multi thousand premiums per transaction, plus heavy duties.
Transparent pricing
Digital-first workflows cut costs by up to 50%.
Time‑critical clearances
Delays cost money & credibility when minutes matter.
24/7 rapid‑response desk
On‑call brokers and automated forms secure release within the hour, day or night.
Six‑figure duty exposure
10% tariffs plus MPF can dramatically inflate an aircraft´s landed price.
Duty optimization
We leverage exemptions to reclaim or reduce VAT & duty.
Controlled & military hardware
ITAR/DDTC approvals deter most brokers.
ITAR-authorized expertise
Proven handling of sensitive & military components.
OUR PROCESS

FROM RAMP TO RELEASE IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS

We turn border paperwork into a smooth departure with our proven, penalty-free process.
1
same-day call

Pre-Flight Review

We audit all documents, verify ownership & crew info, and resolve issues before anything is filed.
2
exports lodged ≥ 2 hRS before departure

Same-day filing

We submit AES/EEI export filings, General Declaration & Cargo Manifest, or import Entry forms hours before arrival.
3
1-3 hrs on ramp

Arrival support

Our specialist meets the aircraft, liaises with CBP, hands over a full document pack, and clears you to depart — penalty-free.

STRATEGIC CUSTOMS
BROKERAGE* FOR AIRCRAFT

Formal U.S. Import

We submit Entry 3461 before arrival and file Entry 7501 upon release, so the aircraft reaches the ramp with clearance already granted.

Formal U.S. Export

We lodge the AES/EEI and secure the ITN within an hour—well inside CBP’s two-hour pre-departure window.

Duty & VAT Optimisation

Applying U.S. Goods Returned and other tariff-code strategies can cut import duty by up to 10 %.

Continuous Customs Bonds

Same-day bond issuance eliminates per-entry premiums and accelerates future clearances.

Ferry Permits & Routing Coordination

End-to-end permit, fuel-stop, and contract-crew planning through our network of rated ferry-flight partners—matched to your aircraft category for regulatory compliance and efficient routing.

Disassembled Shipping Support

Whether wings-off containerisation or major-component crating, we coordinate the customs paperwork and logistics for disassembled airframes.

ITAR / Military Clearance

State- and Defense-Department approvals for C-130s, trainer jets, and other controlled aircraft—handled in full compliance by our authorised team.
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CREDENTIALS & COMPLIANCE

Sanctions Screening

Screenings reference OFAC, EU Sanctions, and UN 1267 lists.

Customs Brokerage

*Customs-broker services are provided by Import Export Logistics, Inc. – Licensed U.S. Customs Broker # 32476.

Insured and Compliant

Valiair and its brokerage partner - fully insured and bonded.

Clean Record

Zero-penalty record since inception.

Request a Clearance
Built to CBP Standards

Ready to work with a specialist who delivers a clearance plan built to CBP best-practice standards?
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Support

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about our aircraft import, export, and customs procedures.
Can’t find  the answer you’re looking for?
Please contact us.
How much lead time does Valiair need for the paperwork?
Most clearances are same-day; exports must be filed at least two hours before departure under federal rules. Because Valiair’s filings are automated and the team works 24/7, last-minute requests are routine.
If my jet keeps its “N-registration,” do I still need an export filing when it leaves the U.S.?
Yes. Tail numbers are irrelevant to Customs. Any aircraft worth more than US $2,500 that is sold to a non-U.S. party, or will spend >50 % of its time abroad, legally counts as an export—regardless of registration.
I’m a non-U.S. owner without an American company. Can Valiair act as Importer or Exporter of Record?
Yes. Valiair offers a premium service where it steps in as the official Importer or Exporter of Record, securing the required continuous bond and handling all liability with CBP.
My aircraft is already on the ramp and Customs has identified a missing filing—can Valiair step in?
Yes. Our 24/7 duty team is experienced in short-notice situations. We gather the necessary data, prepare the correct entry or export documentation, and liaise directly with the local Customs office. Clearance times depend on the airport and case complexity, but we are often able to resolve the issue the same day, keeping ground time and associated costs to a minimum.
When does an aircraft have to be formally imported into the United States?
A formal entry is required whenever a foreign-based aircraft will be based in the U.S., brought in for major value-adding work (e.g., new engines/avionics), or sold/pass-through while on U.S. soil. Even “temporary” visits that change the aircraft’s value or ownership trigger an import filing.