Croatia Issues New Regulatory Framework for Seaplane Operations on Maritime and Inland Waters

Croatia has established a clearer regulatory framework for seaplane operations on maritime and inland waters, developed through cooperation between the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA), the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, and the authorities responsible for maritime and inland navigation. The CCAA published the second revision of Aviation Safety Order ASO-2018-004, dated 16 September 2026, governing off-aerodrome landings and take-offs on land and water surfaces, with maritime provisions coordinated with the Directorate for Navigation Safety and inland-water rules harmonised with the Directorate for Inland Navigation.

The revised Order clarifies the aircraft commander's responsibilities during water operations, requiring notification of the competent RIS or VTS traffic service and the relevant harbour master's office no later than 30 minutes before a planned landing or take-off, including location and estimated time. The commander must assess the water surface against the aircraft flight manual, wind, waves, currents, obstacles and approach and departure paths, and must overfly the site beforehand to check conditions, obstacles and the presence of people, vessels or other objects.

Off-aerodrome water operations are restricted to daylight hours and visual meteorological conditions, and are prohibited in commercial air transport. Passengers must be informed before the flight that the surface used is neither an aerodrome nor a registered landing site, and of the specific risks involved.

The CCAA stated a key reason for the revision is to enable training courses for a single-pilot seaplane class rating to be conducted in Croatia, adding that the new framework creates the conditions for such training in the future and that it will continue monitoring developments to support safe seaplane operations in the country.