Manitoba, Canada · john.goulet@gouletaviationservices.com · +1 204 340 5535

Fifty years of aviation experience · Accident and injury free · 18,000+ hours · 16,000+ on seaplanes · 19 countries

Profile

Captain John S Goulet has served more than fifty years in commercial aviation as an air transport pilot, flight instructor, designated examiner, chief pilot, operations manager, safety and quality manager, project manager, managing director, chief executive officer, and aviation advisor.

He has worked in nineteen countries on operations as diverse as tourism, forestry, firefighting, fishing, mining, oil and gas, seismic exploration, offshore drilling, marine search and rescue, cargo delivery, transport security, and executive jet management. His expertise lies in providing operational management, safety oversight, and support to companies operating in remote locations under unique and challenging conditions.

He has worked closely with civil aviation authorities in many countries. He understands the information they require when certifying new and unique seaplane operations and when building seaplane-specific infrastructure and waterdromes.

Licences

  • Transport Canada Airline Transport Pilot Licence — AA145414
  • FAA Commercial Certificate, Airplane and Helicopter — 2284815
  • Commercial and ATP licences held in Fiji, Nigeria, and the Philippines
  • ATP and flight authorizations in India, Tonga, Chad, Cameroon, South Africa, Madagascar, the Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, and Venezuela

Flight experience

Total hours flown17,431
Seaplane16,015
Cessna C208 Caravan amphibian6,200
Cessna C208B EX amphibian1,272
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver3,000+
De Havilland DHC-2T Turbo-Beaver2,500+
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter500+
Daher Kodiak 100150+
Helicopter150

Recurrent simulator training: FlightSafety C208 (completed twelve times, 1991–2016); C208B EX (2017); DHC-6 (1998); Kodiak 100 (2017). Garmin G1000 qualified since 2012 on the C172S, C208-675, C208B EX, and Kodiak 100.

Seaplane Career History

Nile Stream Aviation — Italy, Dubai, Egypt May 2025 – present

Seaplane Operations Consultant

Contracted to conduct a feasibility study for an amphibious seaplane operation in Egypt. The contract has entered its second phase — a complete business, operational, and marketing plan — with the AOC application and first flight operations targeted for 2027.

Amphibious Aircraft Manufacturing Project — UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada May 2024 – present

Project Manager

Working with a UK aircraft designer, a Saudi consulting firm, and a Canadian project management team to initiate the manufacture in Canada of a new amphibious seaplane design.

Independent seaplane start-up consulting Jan 2022 – present

Managing Consultant

Feasibility studies, financial analysis, operational, environmental, quality, and safety assessments, and business plans for clients establishing new amphibious seaplane operations in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Malaysia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and India.

Amik Aviation — Canada May 2022 – Apr 2023

Operations Manager / Pilot

Provided operational management for an existing C208 airline serving the remote Manitoba communities of Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi, updating the company’s safety management systems and operational efficiency.

GlobalFlyers Oct 2019 – Jun 2022

Ferry Captain

Delivered a Kodiak amphibian from Al-Ain, UAE, to Iceland, Luxembourg, and Germany, and ferried new Cessna aircraft from Wichita to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India, including North Atlantic crossings via Labrador, Greenland, and Iceland.

Beach Flyer Seaplanes — Philippines Jan 2019 – Mar 2020

Managing Consultant / Director of Operations

Set up the project plan for a new C208B EX amphibious seaplane operation, including the feasibility study, financial analysis, operational, environmental, quality, and safety assessments, and the business plan.

Sky Atoll — Maldives Feb 2016 – Nov 2018

Managing Director / Director of Operations / Chief Pilot

Set up a new Kodiak 100 amphibious operation for Setouchi Holdings: registered and incorporated the company, negotiated leasing terms for six aircraft with options on fourteen more, flew the 2017 proving flights throughout the Maldives, completed the operations and maintenance manuals, and wrote and presented the business plan to the Maldives CAA in support of the AOC application.

Setouchi Holdings — Japan Feb 2016 – Oct 2018

Consultant / Demonstration Captain, Kodiak 100 Amphibian

Carried out successful Kodiak seaplane demonstrations in the Maldives, Tonga, and India, and provided consulting services in Japan and the Maldives.

ICAO — Water Aerodromes Small Working Group Feb – Mar 2018

Seaplane Operations Consultant

Joined the committee developing regulations governing seaplane (water) aerodromes for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, representing Indonesia, Fiji, Thailand, Seychelles, the Philippines, India, and the Maldives.

Air Juan — Philippines Apr 2014 – May 2017

Director of Seaplane Operations / Chief Pilot / Check & Training Captain

Set up a new and unprecedented C208B EX Amphibian 8750 seaplane operation: operational assessments, completion of operations manuals, addition of the type under the AOC, and flight training and ground school for eight captains and eight co-pilots. Also implemented the Takeflite airline reservation and booking system, contributing to a 200 percent increase in revenue within a few months of going live.

Villa Air — Maldives Sep 2013 – Mar 2014

Check & Training Captain, C208-675 Amphibian

Set up a new C208 seaplane operation: operational assessments, operations manuals, addition of the C208 type under the AOC, and ground school for all captains, co-pilots, and cabin attendants. Performed the aircraft acceptance flights at Cessna in Wichita and Wipaire in Minneapolis.

Pan African Airlines (Bristow Group) — Nigeria Jun 2004 – Jun 2007

Chief Pilot / Training Captain / Managing Director (2005–2006)

Responsible for Lagos, Escravos, and Port Harcourt helicopter and fixed-wing operations, including the Chevron contract. Approved as Managing Director and Accountable Manager by the NCAA (2005–2006), returning the business unit to profitability. Flew the C208-675 Amphibian on IFR and VFR missions throughout Nigeria as an NCAA-approved designated examiner.

Travira Air — Indonesia Sep 2001 – May 2004

Chief Pilot / Training Captain, C208-675 Amphibian

Developed the seaplane flight operation supporting Newmont’s gold mine, writing the business plan that won the contract and designing the flight and engineering facilities from the ground up. Flew missions throughout Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, and eastward to Komodo Island; the operation passed two IATA audits, and Travira still holds the Newmont contract in 2026.

Air Hotel — Madagascar Jun 2001

Training Captain, C208-675 Amphibian

Set up a new seaplane operation at Nosy Be supporting the tourist industry, checking out four captains as the designated examiner for the CAA.

Seaplane Company — South Africa Dec 2000 – Jan 2001

Chief Pilot, C208 Amphibian

Set up a new seaplane operation in Cape Town harbour supporting the tourist industry, checking out four captains as the designated examiner for the CAA.

Pan African Airways — Nigeria Nov 1999 – May 2002

Line Pilot / Safety Officer, C208-675 Amphibian

Training captain and line pilot on the Chevron contract.

Knee Lake Airways — Canada Apr – May 1999

Training Captain, C208 Amphibian

Worked with the chief pilot to set up the first-ever C208 amphibious operation in Manitoba for a sport fishing lodge, training two captains and conducting all initial operational assessments.

Hummingbird Island Airways / Trans Maldivian Airways — Maldives Jan 1998 – Oct 1999

Flight Operations & Engineering Manager / Chief Pilot Fixed Wing

Established a new fixed-wing operation by adding the C208 and DHC-6 to the existing helicopter AOC, starting with six amphibious Caravans. Won eleven of twelve resort contracts as the Maldives expanded tourist development; daily passenger volumes grew from 40 to 400. The company still operates as Trans Maldivian Airways today.

Linea Turistica Aerotuy — Venezuela Apr and Aug 1997

Training Captain, C208-675 Amphibian

Established a new seaplane operation at Maturin supporting the oil and gas and tourism industries, flying missions throughout the Orinoco Delta, Lake Guri, Canaima Falls, and Rio Amacuro while checking out four captains as the designated examiner for the CAA.

Pan African Airlines — Nigeria Jan 1992 – Dec 1997

Project Manager / Operations Manager / Chief Pilot

Established the first-ever C208 amphibious seaplane operation in Nigeria — and the first Cessna Caravan in the country — supporting construction projects in the oil and gas industry. Became the first C208 designated examiner for the Nigerian CAA.

Willbros International — Nigeria Jan 1986 – Dec 1991

Operations Manager / Chief Pilot, C206 Amphibian and DHC-2T Turbo-Beaver

Set up and operated the flight department for the primary oil service contractor to Shell, Chevron, and Agip, supporting dredging, pipeline laying, and flow station fabrication throughout the Niger River Delta. Purchased, imported, and added the Turbo-Beaver to the company’s AOC.

Helicopter, executive jet and FBO leadership

Maldivian Helicopters — Maldives Nov 2018 – Jan 2019

Project Manager

Produced the bid proposal for a new AW139 medical evacuation helicopter operation, negotiating between an investment firm, a helicopter service provider, a leasing firm, and a local partner; the result was a contract bid with the Government of the Maldives.

EAN Aviation — Nigeria Jul 2011 – Sep 2013

Managing Director / Project Manager

Developed and launched a first-of-its-kind FBO ground-handling jet centre in Lagos, negotiating contracts with VistaJet, NetJets Europe, Universal Weather, World Fuel, MCM, and Nestoil, and obtaining both an AMO and an Air Transport Licence (AOC) from the NCAA.

Heliportugal — Portugal Jun 2010 – May 2011

Aviation Advisor

Implemented a workable safety and quality management system for the Heliportugal–Helisuporte consortium and audited their maintenance services, leading to OGP approval for offshore contracts.

Caverton Helicopters — Nigeria Aug 2009 – May 2010

CEO / Managing Director / Accountable Manager

Took over a helicopter company that had gone six years without winning a major oil company contract. Rebuilt safety standards and day-to-day procedures, assembled the technical team, wrote the financial business plan, and bid on the two major tenders. Within nine months, both Total and Shell awarded long-term contracts to Caverton.

Chevron Deepwater — Nigeria Jan 2006 – Apr 2009

Deepwater Aviation Advisor / Project Manager / Safety & Quality Auditor

Developed the business plans, financial modelling, and technical requirements for the helicopter contracts servicing the Agbami deepwater field, managing day-to-day S76C++ operations to the FPSO, drill rigs, and subsea vessels. Audited all deepwater aviation partners and chaired the committee that drafted joint offshore SAR procedures for Chevron, Shell, Total, and ExxonMobil.

Pan African Airlines (Air Logistics) — Nigeria Jun – Dec 2004

Project Manager

Hired to reorganize a company at risk of losing a 35-year contract after failed audits and a fatal accident. The turnaround succeeded: a 2006 Chevron review declared Pan African Airlines the best-run and safest helicopter operator in Nigeria, and it held the Chevron contract until 2017.

Early Career

  • Turtle Airways, Fiji (1983–1985) — chief pilot and training captain, C206 floatplane flights to resort islands.
  • Island Air, Gulf Island Air, Air BC, Air Nootka, British Columbia (1980–1983) — DHC-2 Beaver west coast seaplane pilot supporting forestry and commercial fishing from Vancouver, Victoria, Campbell River, and Tahsis.
  • Manitoba, Ontario, and NWT (1975–1979) — C180, C185, C206, DHC-2, and Beech 18 for fly-in sport fishing and charter operators.

Professional training and certifications

  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification training — 2018
  • IATA Aviation Safety Management Diploma; Airline Operations Safety & Quality Auditor — Singapore, 2007, passed with distinction. IATA-accredited safety auditor; more than twenty airline and operator audits completed.
  • Safety Management Systems for Airlines — IATA, 2006, passed with distinction.
  • Quality Management Systems — IATA, 2005, passed with distinction
  • Airline Ground Operations Safety Auditor — IATA, 2004, passed with distinction
  • Human Factors and Risk Assessment; Safety Management Tools and Methods — City, University of London, 2012
  • Developing a Business Plan — Oxford Aviation Academy / City, University of London, 2012
  • ICAO Aviation English Language Proficiency Assessor — 2008; certified by the Nigerian CAA, 2010
  • Aviation Accident Investigator — CHC Safety and Quality Summit, Vancouver, 2011
  • Advanced Helicopter Operator Management — Helicopter Association International, 2012
  • Bell 206 type rating — Bristow Academy, Florida, 2012
  • Helideck Inspection Procedures Certification — HCA, 2008
  • Instrument Check Pilot and Examiner Course — Transport Canada approved, 1998
  • Flight Instructor Rating — Winnipeg Flying Club, 1979

Publications and industry contributions

  • Helicopter Safety — co-written and co-edited by John S Goulet; published by the University of Texas (PETEX), 2008; used as a textbook in the Rotary Drilling Series for offshore workers.
  • Member, ICAO Water Aerodromes Small Working Group (2018), developing seaplane aerodrome regulations for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
  • Presenter at the CHC Safety and Quality Summit; author of many aviation and safety articles; publisher of one of the first aviation websites on the internet.

Aviation safety commitment

I believe risk can be managed and minimized to the point where a dedicated aviation company can achieve incident-free operations on a day-to-day basis. The company, however, must be introspective and self-critical in dealing with hazards, and transparent in its methods and procedures for addressing them. My goal is to help every employee and manager realize their safety potential.