# When Maritime Meets Aviation: The Safety of Seaplanes on the Water
## 5 Conclusions  
This study emphasizes the unique safety challenges associated with seaplane operations on Canadian waters, particularly in the private and recreational sectors. Unlike their commercial counterparts, private seaplane pilots operate in less regulated environments, increasing their exposure to risks related to pilot experience, water conditions, and interactions with maritime traffic. The findings underscore the need for a holistic approach to safety management that integrates both aviation and maritime principles. Raising safety awareness within the seaplane community requires active engagement through in-person events like seminars, workshops, and focus groups, which have proven effective based on positive participant feedback. Encouraging community involvement in safety initiatives fosters a strong safety culture, supported by awareness programs sharing practical tips through social media, newsletters, and seasonal emails. Additionally, collaboration with industry stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, training organizations, and seaplane operators, is essential for developing standardized safety protocols and sharing resources to enhance safety education. To make interventions more effective, specific measures such as tailored boater education campaigns, clearer signage at popular waterways, and formal agreements between aviation and maritime authorities can be implemented to strengthen awareness and compliance. Regulatory adjustments could include updating collision regulations (COLREGs) to explicitly address seaplane operations and establishing formal procedures for shared water use. These targeted strategies provide concrete avenues for enhancing safety beyond general recommendations. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Area of Intervention** & **Proposed Measure** \\ \hline Regulatory oversight & Develop integrated aviation–maritime SMSs; enhance reporting requirements for minor incidents \\ \hline Boater awareness & Community outreach campaigns; regulatory adjustments to clarify seaplane priority and right-of-way \\ \hline Pilot training quality & Extend minimum training duration; implement mandatory proficiency checks; use detailed checklists \\ \hline Skills maintenance & Emphasize manual flying techniques alongside technology use; simulate real-world scenarios \\ \hline Incentivizing further training & Offer insurance discounts for pilots completing additional safety courses \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 7: Summary of proposed safety interventions for private recreational seaplane operations. Ultimately, addressing seaplane safety on the water requires ongoing research, policy adjustments, and proactive engagement with all stakeholders. Practitioners and decision-makers can use these insights to design region-specific safety initiatives, develop integrated regulatory frameworks, and prioritize resources for public education campaigns. Furthermore, the study design emphasizes a cross-sectoral approach to safety, and it offers a replicable model for regions outside Canada, including areas with different maritime environments, regulatory landscapes, and seaplane usage patterns. By implementing targeted safety interventions and fostering a culture of awareness and preparedness, future efforts can contribute to safer waterways for seaplane pilots, passengers, and the broader maritime community. In conclusion, while the findings of this study are rooted in the Canadian context, the proposed safety strategies and methodological framework can inform international efforts to improve seaplane safety, making this study relevant to diverse operational environments. Conceptualization, I.M. and A.M.; methodology, I.M. ; software, I.M. ; validation, I.M. and A.M.; formal analysis, I.M. ; investigation, I.M. ; resources, I.M. ; data curation, I.M. ; writing--original draft preparation, I.M. ; writing--review and editing, I.M. and A.M.; visualization, I.M. ; supervision, I.M. and A.M.; project administration, I.M. ; funding acquisition, I.M.