Before paying a deposit on a seaplane or amphibious charter in Indonesia for 2027, ask for three documents: the operator’s Air Operator Certificate under CASR Part 135 (or Part 91 for non-commercial flights), proof of onboard safety equipment under CASR Part 91 Amendment 5, and the water aerodrome’s registration under CASR Part 139 Volume III. These three papers exist because Indonesia treats a floating water landing site the same way it treats a runway: as a certified aerodrome with a named operator, not an informal beach or bay.
Which Certificate Lets an Operator Sell You a Seaplane Charter?
Commercial charter flights in Indonesia are supposed to fall under CASR Part 135, the rule set covering an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for air taxi and charter work. Some flights — positioning legs, training, or non-revenue movements — fall under Part 91 instead, which carries lighter operational requirements but does not authorize selling seats to the public for hire.
A concrete public example: one published South Bali-to-Sumbawa charter route page states that its flights operate under its Indonesian partner’s AOC, PT Wisarada Sapanta Utama, certificate number 135-067, approved by the Ministry of Transport and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Indonesia. That level of disclosure — the certificate holder’s name and number, published next to the route — is what a 2027 traveler should look for before wiring money, the same standard reflected on that desk’s South Bali to Sumbawa flight page.
A quoting agent who cannot name the AOC holder, or who says “the certificate is still being finalized,” is describing a flight that is not yet legally sellable as a charter.
| Ask before deposit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which company holds the AOC, and what’s the certificate number? | Confirms the flight is Part 135 charter, not an unauthorized Part 91 movement |
| Is the water landing site a registered water aerodrome? | Unregistered sites lack obstacle clearance and coordination sign-off |
| Who issued the water-landing permit and when? | Distinguishes an active permit from a pending application |
| Is the aircraft registered and delivered, or still on order? | Several 2026-announced routes were pending aircraft delivery as of the announcement date |
| What’s the refund policy if weather or tide cancels the flight? | Seaplane ops are daylight-only and sea-state dependent by regulation |
What Safety Equipment Must Be Onboard Under Part 91?
CASR Part 91 Amendment 5 sets equipment minimums specific to seaplanes and amphibious aircraft, separate from standard fixed-wing carriage rules. A compliant aircraft carries one life jacket per person onboard, sound-signal equipment meeting COLREGs (the same collision-avoidance signaling standard used by vessels), an anchor, and a sea anchor (a drogue) when operational conditions call for one.
None of this is exotic — it mirrors what a small boat carries — but it is worth confirming out loud, because a charter aircraft configured for land operations does not automatically carry maritime safety gear unless it has been fitted for water work.
Which Certificate or Manual Actually Covers What?
Travelers researching “amphibious aircraft regulations” often conflate three separate documents that each govern a different part of the flight.
| Document | Governs | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| CASR Part 135 (AOC) | The operator’s right to sell charter seats | Certificate number, operator name, DGCA approval |
| CASR Part 91 Amendment 5 | Onboard safety equipment for seaplanes | Life jackets, sound signals, anchor, sea anchor |
| Manual of Standard CASR Part 139 Vol. III (SKEP/227/VIII/2010; KP 206/2021) | Water aerodrome physical standards | Registration under CASR 139.101, obstacle-limitation surfaces, coordination with AirNav Indonesia |
What Laws Sit Behind These Rules?
Two national laws frame everything above: Undang-Undang No. 1 Tahun 2009 on aviation, which establishes certification and safety oversight for commercial air operations, and Undang-Undang No. 17 Tahun 2008 on shipping, which becomes relevant because a water aerodrome sits inside maritime waters governed by port and vessel-traffic rules. Peraturan Pemerintah No. 40 Tahun 2012 sits underneath the aviation law as an implementing regulation.
The Manual of Standard adopted for water aerodromes draws on FAA Advisory Circular 150/5395-1 and sets minimums for water aerodromes serving seaplanes up to 30 seats — physical dimensions, obstacle-limitation surfaces, visual aids and operating procedures. A water aerodrome must be certified and registered under CASR 139.101, published through both aeronautical and maritime notification channels, and backed by a Letter of Operational Coordination Agreement between the operator, AirNav Indonesia, and the relevant maritime authority. The national register is supposed to list the base name, its location, and its operator — information a traveler can ask an operator to show, even informally.
What’s Actually Flying vs. What’s Been Announced for 2027?
Public announcements and live schedules are not the same thing, and 2027 planning should treat them separately. Santai Seaplane, operating as PT Santai Seaplane Aviation and a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Seaplane Asia Group, announced amphibious operations around Bali and Banyuwangi in a press release dated 25 December 2025 and updated in January 2026, naming Banyuwangi Airport (BWX) as a key hub with approved water-landing permits at the Banyuwangi water aerodrome, Menjangan in North Bali, and other sites in southern Bali. That release stated commercial service would begin in Q2 2026, pending aircraft delivery and registration.
A separate LinkedIn announcement dated 3 January 2026 described a partnership with Bali Kerthi Byomantara to reactivate Letkol Wisnu Airport in North Bali as a hub for commercial amphibious operations from 2026, using Cessna Grand Caravan amphibious aircraft to link North Bali with Banyuwangi and Denpasar.
As of September 2026, no operator had published route pages for Bali-Gili, Bali-Lombok, Bali-Nusa Lembongan, Bali-Sumba, or Bali-Komodo seaplane water landings. Those routes should be treated as feasibility-on-request for a 2027 trip, not confirmed schedules, until an operator publishes its own certificate and permit details for that specific water landing site.
How Should a 2027 Charter Itinerary Be Documented?
A well-documented quote for a 2027 booking should include, in writing: the AOC holder’s name and certificate number, the water aerodrome’s registration reference for each landing point, confirmation that life jackets onboard match passenger count, a stated weather and tide contingency (since seaplane operations are daylight-only and sea-state dependent by rule), and a clear breakdown of positioning legs, stops, and landing or handling fees separate from the flight price itself. None of this replaces independent verification with the operator or a licensed aviation lawyer — it is a checklist for the questions worth asking before money changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a seaplane charter operator in Indonesia need a different certificate than a standard fixed-wing charter operator?
The certificate category is the same — CASR Part 135 for commercial charter — but a seaplane operator additionally carries Part 91 Amendment 5 equipment obligations (life jackets, sound signals, anchor) and must operate from a water aerodrome registered under CASR Part 139 Volume III, which a land-airport-only charter operator never needs.
What happens if a water aerodrome planned for a 2027 charter isn’t yet certified under CASR Part 139 Volume III?
An uncertified site cannot legally host scheduled commercial water landings, since CASR 139.101 requires registration before an aerodrome — water or land — operates for public transport. A charter proposing an uncertified site should be treated as an unconfirmed feasibility study, not a bookable route, until registration and coordination paperwork with AirNav Indonesia is complete.
Is a verbal confirmation from a sales agent enough to confirm AOC compliance before paying a deposit?
No — ask for the AOC holder’s name and certificate number in writing, and where possible cross-check it against the operator’s own published route pages or public DGCA references. A verbal assurance without a certificate number does not establish that the flight is legally authorized to sell charter seats under Part 135.