1 min readBy Aaron Spray
The 180 Mph, 12-Seat Electric Aircraft The US Coast Guard Just Certified As A Boat
The new Seaglider can't leave ground effect, making it a boat for regulatory purposes as clarified in a 2024 law.
By Aaron SprayZimbabwe

While tiltrotor aircraft blur the line between helicopters and turboprop aircraft, ekranoplans, also called ground effect vehicles or wing-in-ground-effect, blur the distinction between an airplane and a boat. This is not theoretical: the craft's unique characteristics could attract both maritime and aviation regulations and encouraged Congress to pass a new law in 2024 clarifying what a boat is, what is an aircraft, and what the responsibilities of the US Coast Guard and FAA are.
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About this article
- Length
- 75 words · 1 min read
- Published
- September 19, 2026
- Byline
- Aaron Spray
- Source
- Simple Flying