APAC AAM Summit

Seaplane Asia at the APAC AAM Leadership Summit 2026

Last week our Group Chief Commercial Officer, Michael J “Mickey” Aumock, had the privilege of attending—and speaking at—the APAC AAM Leadership Summit in Singapore on February 2, 2026, held in conjunction with the Singapore Airshow. The summit gathered key stakeholders in advanced air mobility (AAM), with a sharp focus on eVTOLs: electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that represent the future of air taxis and urban/regional mobility.

Mickey was invited to deliver a keynote to OEM manufacturers, regulators, infrastructure developers, and industry leaders. The room recognized that groundbreaking technology is only half the equation—true market success depends on operational readiness and real-world execution. During his keynote, Mickey drew directly from experience operating premium seaplane services across Southeast Asia to argue why this model offers one of the strongest, safest, and most commercially viable early pathways for eVTOLs.

The central thesis: Luxury last-mile travel today—connecting high-net-worth individuals from city hubs to remote resorts, islands, or hard-to-reach destinations—mirrors the initial challenges eVTOLs will face. Passengers in this segment already prioritize comfort, quiet operation, exclusivity, convenience, and a genuine sense of adventure over pure speed or cost. They willingly pay a premium to bypass traffic, ferries, or long drives, embracing the novelty of water-based or low-altitude flight.

Addressing Potential Challenges

Mickey also addressed the practical hurdles OEMs must solve before launch: Who designs, builds, and maintains vertiports and charging infrastructure? Who develops rigorous pilot training programs tailored to electric distributed propulsion? Who operates the aircraft day-to-day with proven safety management systems? And crucially—who truly understands the expectations and behaviors of ultra-high-net-worth last-mile passengers? Seaplane operators like us bring expertise in exactly these areas:: regulatory compliance, high-touch customer service, seasonal demand management, and delivering flawless experiences in challenging environments.

We followed up with several productive meetings with eVTOL OEMs and ecosystem partners, exploring how experienced operators can collaborate to bridge certification progress with market-ready deployment. At Seaplane Asia, we see enormous potential in partnerships that combine cutting-edge technology with operational excellence, deep regional market insight, and a focus on safety and trust.

The next few years will be complex—full of regulatory milestones, infrastructure builds, and market testing—but the foundation is solid. By starting with proven use cases and high-value customers who already embrace innovative air travel, we can accelerate the path to safe, sustainable, and scalable advanced air mobility across Asia and beyond.

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If you weren't at the APAC AAM Summit, and you have questions, or would like to set up a meeting to discuss how Seaplane Asia can help your OEM chart a course through South East Asia, get in touch directly with our CCO at mickey@seaplaneasia.com.

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