Originally Posted by
HNLbasedFlyer
I'm a bit surprised the FAA would grant a waiver to fly a grounded plane permission to fly to China - even for maintenance (isn't the engine part of heavy maintenance?). It is one thing to get them from - lets say Hawaii - to San Francisco - to be readied for inspection.
HNL-XMN is only about twice the distance of HNL-SFO — I wouldn't think that is a major factor in evaluating a waiver. I imagine they're more interested in the other risk mitigation steps taken, such as the possible ones LarryJ posed, perhaps along with the experience of the crew flying the ferry.