When Maritime Meets Aviation: The Safety of Seaplanes on the Water

The water environment is a dynamic domain critical to global transportation and commerce, where seaplanes operate during take-offs, landings, and ground operations, often near maritime traffic. Canada’s vast remote regions and unique geography increase reliance on seaplanes, especially for private and recreational purposes. This article examines the intersection of aviation and maritime operations through a mixed-methods approach, analyzing seaplane safety on waterways using quantitative and qualitative methods. First, data from 1005 General Aviation (GA) seaplane accidents in Canada (1990–2022) are analyzed, revealing 179 fatalities, 401 injuries, and 118 destroyed aircraft—significant given that seaplanes comprise under 5% of GA aircraft. Of these, 50.35% occurred while the seaplane was not airborne. Second, insights from interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires involving 136 participants are explored through thematic and content analysis. These capture pilot concerns that are not evident in accident data, such as hazards from jet ski interactions and disruptive boat wakes. The findings highlight risks like limited visibility and maneuverability during waterborne take-offs, worsened by seaplanes’ lack of priority over maritime vessels in shared spaces. This article concludes with recommendations for both the seaplane and maritime communities, including increasing awareness among boaters about the presence and operations of seaplanes, as well as regulatory adjustments, particularly considering the right of way.