Importing a glider

From WikiGlide

I am considering my options for a replacement to Alice and one possibility is to import a second hand glider from Europe or the USA. I know there are people here who have done that and would appreciate some guidance on how best to go about this and what pitfalls exist.

Responses: (Mike Borgelt) Do go and look at it and fly it if at all possible. Even then you may find some things that aren't quite what they should be. Ask me about the fuel vent line repair in a Nimbus 3DM done through a 10mm hole. Problem wasn't caused by the guy who sawed the fin off and put on the larger one who carried this out according to factory instructions but by the poor design of the consequent repair to the fuel vent line. If you are going to be up for a 40 foot container on your own just put the trailer in it and buy the trailer. Makes it easy to get the glider to the container and means you don't worry about packing nearly as much. Alternatively you may get a roll on - roll off deal and dispense with the container. Do check the trailer connections and tow hitch while you are inspecting the glider. That way you can have the correct adapter and tow ball when you pick it up at the wharf.

(Alan Armistead) If you are also looking at bringing in a trailer, be aware this is treated as a vehicle import. You will need to get an import approval from Dept of Transport and Regional Services (you can track down details on their web site, dotars.gov.au). It is ESSENTIAL that you organise this ahead of time. You must have the approval before the trailer docks in Australia. Otherwise the options are to: (a) re-export it and get the paperwork sorted out before you bring it back, or (b) destroy it Neither of these options are very palatable (!) There are also issues re trailer registration, as the typical glider trailer does not meet ADRs because of excessive overhang. You will require a special permit, detailed procedures (probably still) vary from state to state so talk to your motor registration people ahead of time.

(Erich Wittstock) It is imperative to get the glider taken off the register in the country you are purchasing it from. Hastily scribbled notes, photocopies, e-mails etc are not enough. To get the glider registered here you have to have that official docket with stamps in triplicate and carbon copies... it has to be official from the "Luftfahrtbundesamt" etc. Before you make that final payment for the glider - demand that docket! (words are not enough)

Check out the manufacturers list of AD's. It'll be worth while to get in contact with the manufacturer and ask them about that info list. (DG is known to be very customer friendly as an example) Compare that list with what needs to be done here in OZ. All this should be straight forward if it's not a first of type here in Australia. Find out which AD have been done on the glider you are about to own. It's a good idea to find someone who is prepared to perform the first form2 here in OZ before you get the glider (to be sure, to be sure). It's a "hobby" for a few people out of my club to import gliders privately (not commercial) - they've done it a few times now and know the ropes. If you want, I get you in contact with them. With all those new gliders coming up (ASH 30) etc. prices will drop for decent gliders. Discus, LS4 etc are still worth while. - yep globilasation is not bad if we can get some decent gliders for decent money. (import gst is now 10% - before the gst: gliders attracted luxury tax) We have a few commercially operated soaring centers here in Australia that are shipping gliders between Europe and here and back every year. (Maybe there's a spot coming up for the next season) These gliders usually arrive stacked in containers without trailers - however, trailers are being sent here as well. Our importers of new gliders have container space available from time to time as well... as noted by Chris - you have to find someone that will pack your glider "in cotton wool" for you.

(Simon Hackett) To add to the list of things to be aware of:

I've moved Stemme aircraft to/from Australia multiple times; One (VH- TCP) is just back at Port Adelaide from the factory now, though I've deferred delivery until just after Avalon so I can concentrate on flying VH-SIO over to Avalon tomorrow :)

Anyway, some random items I've learned:

- If you can pick the aircraft up at the freight forwarders facility, you will save a delivery leg on a truck, which costs 'thousands' routinely.

- Really *do* believe what has been said about trailer imports - get an import permit first. They're only $50 and they remove all hassle from legally importing it.

That allows you to bring the trailer in, but not to take it on a public road.

When it comes to that latter task, *registering* it, a process which varies a little from state to state, contact your local motor registration people for details and/or find someone who has done it in your state and ask them to tell you what the steps and/or tricks are. Its not necessarily as hard as you might think, but there are some optimisations here - again find someone who has succeeded before you, it'll save you a lot of grief.

Also remember that a little research can go a long way - you might, for instance, be able to arrange a single day registration permit (in SA, at least, a princely $6) to (for instance) tow the trailer from the importers facility to the registration inspection area to have it inspected for compliance, and if its compliant, great, if it isn't, the permit will then let you tow it back to your glider club and fix what needs fixing and you can get another permit and try again another day.

This is the form:

http://www.dotars.gov.au/department/forms/pdf/VSB10_Form.pdf

The form is design by a bureaucrat who clearly enjoyed hurting peoples' heads. But if you remember that you have a trailer, not a car, and follow the 'if <a> then go to stop 42' things around the form properly, you'll see that much of the form doesn't apply and you really just need the VIN number from the trailer and a $50 cheque that doesn't bounce. So 'just do it' (tm).

Note that there -are- plenty of glider trailers in Australia that 'slipped through the net', but it depends a lot on the luck of the draw; There is some (valid in my view) argument for a glider in a trailer being the moral equivalent of a violin in a violin case - the case is only there to protect it during shipping. And on this basis many have indeed turned up here, but for $50 and a tiny bit of additional planning, seriously, why take the risk? If you get hauled up for this as the shipment arrives, it generates all sorts of un- necessary grief.

If you have to have the container stored while you get the permit (14 day cycle time), consider that I'm storing a container for two weeks right now before delivery (for a different reason) and its costing me more than $3000 to do it. Shipping companies *really* don't like to do this, you're stopping the container earning them more $$$ by moving something else - and that $50 and a bit of forward planning suddenly looks even more sensible, doesn't it.

- Shipping gliders inside trailers is great in that these are often the best possible mounting systems to hold the parts steady and safe, without a trailer you really really need someone who is competent to pack it well at the remote side.

- To underscore the previous point, imagine that some huge angry greek god is going to take your shipping container and routinely drop it from a great height over and over for two months, and subject it to interesting side to side rolling motions, and in addition will inject some salty high humidity sea air, raise the internal temperature of the container to silly levels, and leave it that way for weeks. Then look at how you're getting it secured and secure it even better than that. You'll thank yourself.

- If you are shipping the aircraft from Europe and it is made by a european manufacturer who is still in business, seriously consider getting the aircraft shipped to that manufacturer and paying them to inspect/service/perform any needed AD's/add any options you might like that they can supply etc etc. It may be the last time it visits the manufacturer, and (obviously) they can do things more cost effectively and more compentently than can necessarily be done here.

- Get a copy of the import paperwork set needed for a glider from the GFA and read it to understand the information/documents needed to register it here.

There are some magic items like an 'Export C of A' which the original manufacturer can generate for you (by doing a form-2 equivalent inspection) but unfortunately that doesn't absolve you of the need to do another one here. Its also possible to get a glider registered without one but it just needs more hand waving (I've done it both ways with different aircraft over time).

The one you really do need, as already noted, is the certificate of *non* registration (i.e. of deregistration) from its current registration country. The GFA can reserve a registration for you here when you know you are definitely getting an aircraft.

You can view the list of available registrations here (updated daily), and GFA can then pull one over and reserve it for you if you ask nicely:

http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/register/data/Availablemarks.pdf

- I strongly commend the GFA to you in this regard if you are unsure about whether you have, or can have generated, all the documentation they need - in my experience the GFA in general and John Viney in particular have been tremendously helpful and (where needed) flexible with what is required to get an aircraft in and flying. Remember they are as interested as you are in seeing more gliders in Australian skies - if the forms aren't clear, or if you aren't sure, ask them, they'll help.

- Remember one more joy in your life is taxation - GST applies to imported items including gliders (fortunately no other taxes and duties apply any longer). With imports, this has some wrinkles you may not have thought of that contribute to that cost. In particular GST applies to the hull value (which is obvious) but it also applies to anything done overseas that generates a benefit here, including:

       - The cost of all repairs/servicing
       - The cost of shipping

- Insure the shipment. And be there when the container is opened, with a camera. And with lots of tools to help to with the unloading/ unpacking process. And extra helpers to lift/move stuff and to help you if you get tired.

- Make sure you have insurance here ready to kick in once its opened.

- Do speak to people who have done it before, and/or do consider getting assistance from others who have done it before, it can make what seems like a hard process into a far simpler one - it really isn't that bad, you just need to be organised about it.

Overall, this process really is an exercise in what an in-law correctly describes as the "5 P" rule: Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance

(Jim Staniforth) Clean the glider and trailer so there is not a speck of dirt on them. You must de-register the aircraft in the USA, and likely the trailer in the state it's registered. Get approval for the importation of the trailer from DOTARS prior to shipping. Apply for Australian registration for the glider prior to arrival. Be certain not to use any wood with bark on it to chock the trailer in the container. Remember that containers get thrown around and dropped. Pack accordingly. Hire a good shipping agent. If you are not an Australian resident, you will need to have a "registered operator" in Australia. Make a support for the tongue of the trailer so it doesn't sit on the dolly wheel for the trip. Make an electrical adapter to be able to connect to an Australian car and drive away. Use three ratchet straps (tongue, axle, tail) to hold the trailer down. Nail wooden chocks into the container floor. Before closing the container, check again for dirt. (I stress this as Quarantine is a problem)