Sirius: That paperwork would be part of it. The FAA gives waivers all the time. Assume I buy an old DC-3 aircraft. It is located in Oklahoma and I want to bring it out to sunny southern California. While my new (old) DC-3 had a certificate of airworthiness, it hasn't been maintained or inspected for several years. I can apply for a 'ferry permit' that will allow the aircraft to be flown to its' destination. A cursory inspection of the aircraft would need to be made by a licensed A & P mechanic. If the bird met minimum criteria for airworthiness, the FAA would issue a 'waiver' and the aircraft could be flown home.
FAA reps are reluctant to put their vocational necks on the chopping block. However, when they sign the permit, you are literally flying the aircraft at your own risk.
I now think that the reason for the Strat delays was due to the myriad of paperwork that must be overcome before it can take to the sky. Now that the FAA has a new regulation to work with should speed things up considerably.
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