Sea and Floatplanes have long been an integral part of the transportation system in areas of the world where a large landmass and remote locations restrict access by conventional land based aircraft. Coastal inlets, sheltered bays and lakes make for ideal landing and take off strips and are less intrusive than carving out concrete runways in environmentally sensitive regions.
Like all forms of transport, however, there are particular requirements and concerns about how the industry will develop. Scheduled and business passenger numbers are on the increase and GA pilots with floatplane ratings are becoming more numerous. In recent times there have been debates about passenger safety, new harbourside developments, operator priorities, pilot competency and the extent of regulatory involvement in an industry with a reputation for independence and self governance.
If we look beyond Canada, Australia and the US, the emerging nations are now also looking at sea and floatplane options. In China and India, for instance, room for airport development in metro areas is simply not an option. In any case, infrastructure is not necessarily in place and in India, for example, scheduled domestic passenger numbers are set to grow from the current 45 million to 680 million in the space of 15 years. Clearly, if the floatplane can gain traction in this market it offers an attractive and more flexible option to operators and passengers.
Hiterto, most industry events have had a regional focus, dealing with local concerns and vested interests. However, as new markets adopt the sea and floatplane there will be opportunities for OEMs, operators, the knowledge based industries, aviation lawyers, insurers and funding agencies, supply and service providers, industry associations, pilot groups and those who just take an interest in this sector of aviation.
SEAFAC (Sea and Floatplane Annual convention) to be staged in Vancouver 1/2 November, 2012 will be a truely international event which will bring together all sectors of the industry to analyse and debate the issues of the day, to share and exchange ideas and establish best practice. The full programme and schedule of activities will be posted early in 2012, but if you have any suggestions for papers, or are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, please contact us at the email addresses below:
Contact Information: For enquiries about topics and presentations contact, Alan Perry (adp@miuevents.com); for enquiries about international sponsorship and exhibiting contact, Jane Wilson (jw@miuevents.com); for enquiries within Canada and the US contact, Bruce Coatta (bmjcoatta@telus.net)
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