The low-risk first step: find out whether a seaplane operation will work before you spend as if it will.
Every engagement with Goulet Aviation Services can begin here, and this is the one service that always stands alone. The feasibility study exists to answer a single question — will an amphibious seaplane operation work in your chosen area? — and to answer it honestly enough that you and your investors can decide whether to proceed. There is no obligation to continue: the study is priced and structured as a decision tool, not a down payment.
What the study covers
The feasibility study is completed remotely, using online information, which is what keeps it fast and affordable. It reviews:
- Route planning — the proposed base and destination structure, distances, and realistic block times for the aircraft types under consideration.
- Historical weather and sea state analysis — the seasonal patterns that determine how many flying days per year the operation can genuinely expect at each destination.
- Marketing review — demand indicators, tourism flows, competing transport options, and realistic pricing for the specified area.
- Operational review — aircraft options, infrastructure requirements, and the regulatory environment of the jurisdiction.
- Estimated cost analysis and financial assessment — capital and operating cost estimates set against revenue potential.
What you receive
The result is a detailed business case — comprehensive enough to give you or your investors adequate information to proceed with confidence to the next phase, or to walk away having spent very little finding out. Either outcome is a success: the most expensive mistake in aviation is a start-up that should never have started.
Experience
Since 2022, I have completed feasibility studies for clients planning amphibious seaplane operations in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Italy, Malaysia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and India. The most recent has progressed through the business plan phase and is working toward an AOC and first flight operations in 2027.
The next step
If the study says go, the next phase is the On-Site Operational Assessment. This on-the-ground verification becomes the foundation of your business plan and, ultimately, your AOC.
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