Siam Seaplane (Bangkok Don Mueang) has signed a Letter Of Intent (LOI) with Tropic Ocean Airways (TI, Fort Lauderdale International), a Florida-based seaplane operator, to "share expertise and skills as well as collaborate where relevant with any other third parties in their mutual objectives", including the sharing of aircraft.
As it works towards its launch, Siam Seaplane said it would employ Tropic Ocean Airways' existing amphibious airline business model, its US FAA-approved training program, and other existing resources for its operations. This includes its fleet of Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Grand Caravan EX amphibians.
Additionally, Tropic Ocean Airways and Siam Seaplane will work to develop and execute a territory-wide maritime search and rescue (SAR) and a disaster management program to improve resilience and responsiveness.
Tropic Ocean Airways will also assist Siam Seaplane to enact regulations for amphibious aircraft water landings through the sharing of best practices, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and internal controls. This will then enable Thailand to safely regulate amphibious aircraft traffic.
Tropic Ocean Airways currently operates eleven Cessna seaplanes, predominantly deploying them in Florida and the Bahamas. The airline also serves the New York area with flights to destinations such as the Hamptons.
