The organisers of the Future Opportunities for Seaplanes and Amphibious Aviation (FOSAA) event have confirmed 11 February 2025 as the date for the second outing of the dedicated conference.
The event will be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami, Florida. The first event was held in March 2024, when commercial members of the seaplane and amphibious sector gathered in Venice, Italy. The second event will once again bring together stakeholders from across the world to debate and discuss potential and opportunities in the industry.
Rob Ceravolo, CEO and founder of Tropic Ocean Airlines, is confirmed as the keynote speaker. He spent a decade as an Officer and Aviator in the United States Navy, where he flew fast jets and attended Top Gun. Subsequently – 15 years ago – he launched Tropic Ocean Airlines, a highly successful amphibious airline. Ceravolo will share the lessons learned transitioning from fast jets to seaplanes and outline how applying skills learned in the force can support the evolution from start-up to established operator.
The conference will build on the theme of growing successful operations, with topics reflecting resources, infrastructure, tourism development, powertrain options, retrofitting and regulations. New additions to the event include more networking opportunities and a roundtable session to wrap up the day, where subject matter experts will host on dedicated topics including medevac, environmental impact, training, connectivity, interiors, and more.
The organiser shared that OEMs, operators, consultants and supply chain stakeholders are already signing up, along with sponsors, including connectivity provider Satcom Direct and start-up OEMs Jekta and Elfly.
“Since our event in March, we are seeing more profile for the sector as the industry acknowledges the benefits of the flexibility, multiple operating parameters and diverse applications for these aircraft to the global air transport network,” said Lorna Titley, director of Quaynote Communications, the conference producer. “We are excited to provide the platform for the 2025 event and anticipate it will attract an even more diverse set of delegates, as with our Miami location we’re already receiving interest from resort developers, the yachting industry and tourism providers. We were oversubscribed in Venice and expect as much if not more interest this year with a wide range of topics and world-class speakers.”
Jekta’s PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft design is the subject of the cover feature in the September/October 2024 edition of Business Jet Interiors International.
