AN ACR DH8 FLC DEPARTED ON A MAINT FERRY FLT BEFORE THE ACFT WAS CLRED AS AIRWORTHY BY MAINT PERSONNEL. THE FLC DID NOT CHK THE MAINT LOG NOR DID THEY OBTAIN A FERRY PERMIT.

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UPON ARRIVING PHL; ORIGINAL FO SWAPPED (REASSIGNED) INTO A NEW TRIP AND ACFT WAS SWAPPED (UNSCHEDULED). CALLED DISPATCH TO DETERMINE THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR FLT ATTENDANT AND MYSELF SINCE OUR SCHEDULED LEG FROM PHL-ABE WAS CANCELED. DISPATCH INFORMED ME I WS TO FLY AN ACFT AS A FERRY FROM PHL-MDT. EARLIER IN DAY THIS ACFT INGESTED A BIRD INTO THE #1 ENG. DISPATCHER TOLD ME MY NEW FO WOULD ARRIVE SOON AND I SHOULD WATCH FOR HIM. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE ACFT; DISPATCHER RESPONSE WAS; 'IT'S FIXED...YEAH IT'S FIXED...TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THEY FIXED IT.' NO MENTION OF THE FACT THAT PHL-MDT WOULD BE A MAINT FERRY FLT. NEW FO ARRIVED AND WAS OBVIOUSLY UNHAPPY WITH CREW SCHEDULING FOR THE DUTY TIME EXTENSION. (HE HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT PRIOR TO ARR IN PHL). ACQUIRED FLT RELEASE AND WX; NO NOTATIONS ON RELEASE ABOUT STATUS OF WRITE-UPS OR NECESSARY FERRY PERMIT. ACFT WAS PREFLTED AND ACCEPTED. HOWEVER; I FAILED TO CHK THE ACFT LOGBOOK FOR THE STATUS OF THE BIRD INGESTION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: DUTY DAY WOULD (AFTER COMPLETION OF FERRY FLTS) BE APPROX 12 HRS FOR MYSELF AND FLT ATTENDANT. UNSOLICITED EXTENSION OF FO RESULTED IN HIS AND MY PREOCCUPATION WITH SCHEDULING AFFAIRS RATHER THAN THAT OF THE TASK AT HAND. DISPATCH WAS ACTUALLY UNAWARE OF THE TRUE STATUS OF THE ACFT. POOR COM BTWN MAINT; DISPATCH; AND FLCS. INSUFFICIENT VIGILANCE IN ACCEPTING AN ACFT WITH A KNOWN MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY EARLIER IN THE DAY. LACK OF ANY NOTATIONS ON FLT RELEASE SUGGESTING A REPOS FERRY AS OPPOSED TO A MAINT FERRY. HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED: UPON ARR HARRISBURG; DISPATCH INFORMED FLC TO CALL (VIA TELEPHONE) MAINT. MAINT INFORMED ME I HAD FERRIED AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: SUPVR NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY AND COMPANY IS SELF-DISCLOSING TO FAA ALL EVENTS WHICH TRANSPIRED. ACTION PENDING. IF A FERRY PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR FLT; ISSUING 2 SEPARATE DOCUMENTS COULD LEAD TO CONFUSION (AS IN THIS CASE). ALL FERRY PERMITS SHOULD BE INTEGRAL WITH A FLT RELEASE AND THE 'SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS' SECTION SHOULD INCLUDE THE NOTATION 'SUBJECT TO MAINT FERRY PERMIT.'