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Air Wars – Will Seaplanes Replace Helicopters on Superyachts?

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Photograph of a seaplane sitting on a concrete floor, as if in a showroom. The front headlights are on.  The back tail has red trim.  The plane is silver with grey windows and is very sleek and modern-looking

YACHT HELICOPTER BLOG

We profiled the new Mercedes Benz-style helicopter, the EC145.   Its use as an air tender on mega yacht charter vessels is popular. 

Several readers contacted us.  They said the future air tender might be a plane, and not a helicopter.  We decided to investigate further.

As we stated in June,

In the rarified air of multimillion dollar superyachts and gigayachts, helipads on luxury mega yacht charter vessels like motor yacht AIR and motor yacht MOONLIGHT II  commonplace…” 


Photograph of a solid white motoryacht running. Boat is heading toward the bottom 1/3 of the photograph. There are 2 mountains in the background.

4 REASONS FOR SEAPLANES

To illustrate, there are four compelling reasons behind the seaplane advantage.  Specifically, acquisition cost, maintenance cost, payload, and range outweigh helicopters.

Similarly, it is often more affordable to buy and maintain a seaplane.  Compared to a helicopter; we found payload comparisons vary.  This is because of the type of airship.  Seaplanes far exceed the range of typical helicopters.

Seaplane photo. Picture of seaplane in the water behind the swim platform of yacht. The swim platform has is wet in the center, and it has 2 blue and white striped sunpads on it.


SPECIAL LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT

The new generation of planes, specifically, Special Light Sport Aircraft, are the new item.   

 

FAA CATEGORY

These aircraft are relatively new to general aviation. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created a new category for sport aircraft.

COST ADVANTAGE

In general, sports aircraft are cheaper to build than most helicopters.   With fewer training hours required, it is also easier and less expensive for people to get a sport pilot license as compared to a traditional pilot’s license.
 

ICON A5 PLANE

As a tender to a luxury yacht charter vessel, the most interesting new sports plane is the Icon A5, slated for full production later this year.  The A5 is a 2-seat composite amphibian. Weighing just 1000 pounds, the plane features folding wings, allowing the aircraft to be stored onboard a yacht in a space no larger than 28 by 9 feet. 
 
With a price of just $135,000, the Icon A5 could prove to be the low cost air tender of the future.


HOW TO BOOK A YACHT CHARTER WITH SEAPLANE

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