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Aircraft Distressed Recovery

Emergency Aircraft Recovery Without Delay –

Six West responds to grounded and stranded aircraft situations with the urgency, expertise and coordination needed to reposition assets safely and efficiently.

Emergency Aircraft Retrieval

Six West recovers aircraft in a range of distressed scenarios, including regulatory detention, technical grounding, or operational shutdown. We support lessors during airline bankruptcies and fleet reductions, repositioning aircraft until a new lessee is identified. Our team secures all necessary clearances and works directly with insurers and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.

Regulatory & Safety Compliance

We operate in line with ICAO, EASA and FAA standards, securing overflight and ferry flight permits where required. Our team ensures every flight is cleared through the correct regulatory channels and documented with appropriate safety inspections. Although complex, distressed recovery is a routine operation for Six West, managed with the same thorough oversight as any scheduled repositioning.

Maintenance & Flight Readiness

Before recovery, we coordinate with certified maintenance providers to perform essential airframe, engine, and system checks. Our flight crews are briefed directly by the lessor’s technical team and conduct additional pre-flight inspections to confirm flightworthiness. If required, test flights or ground runs are performed prior to departure.

Repatriation & Storage Coordination

We arrange the safe repatriation of recovered aircraft, coordinating with banks, insurers and lessors to determine the destination. While we don’t hold direct partnerships with storage facilities, we manage the repositioning to global locations chosen by the lessor, ensuring the aircraft is secured and preservation protocols are followed where applicable.

Minimising Disruption, Restoring Control

When aircraft are unexpectedly grounded or stranded, time is critical. Six West delivers fast, reliable aircraft distressed recovery services, helping lessors and operators regain control over their assets. Whether due to technical issues, regulatory holds or operational disruption, our team ensures every retrieval is handled with precision, safety and full regulatory oversight. From coordinating permits and logistics to deploying experienced crews, we manage the complexities of each recovery with the same care and attention we apply to our standard ferry operations.

Emergency Retrieval Coordination

We lead the planning and execution of time-sensitive recovery flights, working closely with technical managers, maintenance crews and regulators to reposition aircraft swiftly and safely.

Flight Readiness & Compliance

All aircraft are subject to detailed pre-flight assessments. Our crews ensure airworthiness and documentation are verified before any repositioning occurs.

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