Article by Tony Sotelo

Sam Riggs recently came onto the DOAV’s radar when he applied for private seaplane bases in the Tidewater region. Like most aviation enthusiasts, I think that floatplanes are cool, but I don’t know too much about this category of flying. For example, when I think of an airport, I imagine all the hallmarks – runways, ramps, hangars, and terminals – but what are the features of a seaplane base? As Riggs showed me, it turns out that everything you need to know is in the name: Sea, plane, and a base. Don’t you love it when things are called exactly what they are? While the concept of a seaplane base was simple for Riggs, the implementation was not…

Riggs has always been into aviation, but the financial barrier prevented him from pursuing it earlier. Like most people, he fell back onto a plan B – which in his case turned out to be a rock band. It was almost cliché. He sold his truck and his welding equipment and bought a diesel van to tour around Texas. The only difference was that he developed a fanbase and was making money off his music. In fact, it helped pay for his private pilot’s license, and then a C182 he affectionately called the “Time Machine.” In time, he earned the ratings and endorsements that led to his business, Coastal Seaplanes.  

During my time with Sam, I was able to pose four questions to him.  Those questions and his answers follow:   

What is the moment that inspired Coastal Seaplanes?

Coastal Seaplanes wasn’t born from a single moment—it was a culmination of experiences, hard-won lessons, and the long-held dream of building something with purpose.

When I first filed our 135 application (a certification for commercial air operations including charters and air taxis) with the FAA back in 2021, my vision was clear: to create an operation that made aviation more accessible, something different from the world of private jets and elite-only travel.

I’ve always been a blue-collar guy. I believe that hardworking families deserve the chance to experience the magic of flight without needing a second mortgage. Some people might call that a discount airline—I call it practical, grounded, and human.

What I didn’t know then was that the journey to Part 135 certification would take nearly four years of revisions, waiting, and persistence. I still get heartburn thinking about it. But that time shaped me. It sharpened my skills as a seaplane pilot and as a leader—and gave me the chance to discover the right place to plant this seed: the Chesapeake Bay and Outer Banks region.

When we realized there was no existing seaplane service here—and very few direct, meaningful air connections between waterfront towns—we knew we had found the right soil. Coastal Seaplanes is more than a business. It’s a mission to connect, to inspire, open the skies to everyone, and bring air service to these incredible towns for the first time in history. 

How does flying seaplanes fit into your lifestyle?

Flying seaplanes isn’t just something I do—it’s a way of life. It speaks to freedom, adventure, and the kind of quiet rebellion that comes from leaving the runway behind and carving your own path across open water. That spirit has always driven me—to do things differently, to build something real, and to bring people into the world of aviation in a way that’s personal and unforgettable.

I didn’t come from private jets and executive lounges. I came up hands-on, blue-collar, learning as I went. But that background taught me the value of excellence, reliability, and treating people right—whether they’re first-time flyers or seasoned travelers used to five-star service.

Flying seaplanes allows me to merge those worlds: rugged and refined, adventurous and elegant. It’s about giving people access to remote places, rare experiences, and a sense of wonder you can’t find in a terminal. This lifestyle keeps me grounded, even when I’m airborne, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Can you offer any lessons you would give to someone who had to register a seaplane base?

The biggest lesson? Be prepared to teach – not just explain—but educate every step of the way.

Registering a seaplane base sounds simple on paper. But what I quickly learned is that most local and regional agencies, from planning departments to zoning boards to even some federal bodies, have little to no experience with seaplanes. They don’t know how to classify them, regulate them, or even where to start. You’re not just building infrastructure, you’re building understanding. In our case, even agencies that you’d expect to be well-versed in maritime or aviation regulations had never dealt with a seaplane operation before. We had to walk them through the fundamentals: that seaplanes are federally regulated aircraft; that they are considered vessels when on the water by U.S. law; and that we are held to the same—if not stricter—standards as other commercial operators.

It was frustrating at times. The red tape, the delays, the misunderstandings can wear you down. But we leaned into it. We treated every hearing, every meeting, every permit application like an opportunity to show what seaplanes really are: safe, reliable, regulated, and deeply valuable to coastal communities.

The other key lesson: patience with persistence. You’ll get told no. You’ll get misunderstood. But if your mission is clear and your paperwork is solid (find a stomach for addressing & generating regulatory content), you’ll find a path forward. It takes vision, a thick skin, and a willingness to be the first one through the door.

In the end, building a seaplane base isn’t just about landing aircraft, it’s about landing ideas and building relationships. Some of our staunchest opposers ended up becoming our greatest allies. 

What’s your pitch to someone who asks you why they should get a seaplane endorsement?

It’s the finest form of freedom. Period. If you want to do what you’ve always dreamed of in this wide world of aviation, get your seaplane rating — in the least, it’ll make you a much better pilot… and it has the potential to unlock a realm of experiences reserved only for those who fly floats. Give it a try and you’ll know what I mean. It’s a community, too. I can call seaplane operators across the country looking for parts or to bounce an idea off of them, and it’s an unspoken, immediate bond.

During lunch, I remember a quote you used… “How much does it cost to go the extra mile? Nothing.” Is this right?

Exactly! We don’t think of the people who fly with us as just customers—we want them to be FANS of Coastal, and often by the end of the flight, they feel more like family. That mindset shifts everything.

Going the extra mile isn’t just a business strategy, it’s how we operate by default. Whether it’s rerouting a flight to catch a better sunset, helping someone plan a surprise proposal on a barrier island, or loading up someone’s catch after a fly-in fishing trip—we’re all in, and the cost to do it is almost always negligible. That extra five minutes to fly over someone’s old house on the Eastern Shore enroute to a business meeting in Baltimore creates more than a repeat customer- it creates a bond.

We know that for many folks, this isn’t just a ride, it’s a dream, a memory in the making. And we treat it that way. Every detail matters. Every person matters. Most operators move people. We want to MOVE people.

To learn more about Sam Riggs and Coastal Seaplanes, please visit coastalseaplanes.com