Eric Weaver

Eric Weaver, pilot, has logged extensive hours in seaplane operations, global Caravan Amphibian flights, and long-range Gulfstream missions for Fortune 100 corporate clients. His career in business aviation reflects years of steady growth, beginning with rural flying in Pennsylvania and progressing to advanced corporate aircraft operating internationally. Over time, he has gained wide-ranging experience in both specialized flying and large-scale corporate missions, covering the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, and South America.

His path from small aircraft to advanced business jets shows how persistence and skill can carry a pilot across very different roles. Proficient in seaplanes, Caravan Amphibians, and complex jets, Eric continues to expand his abilities while guiding new aviators. His work has included flight instruction, demonstration flying, and international corporate assignments, making him a versatile figure whose career blends teaching and operational expertise with global business aviation.

Eric’s interest in flying began on his family’s farm in rural Pennsylvania, where his father and uncle operated a Cessna 170 from a closed paved road on the property. This access to aviation became a lasting influence in his life. Alongside early exposure to farming and direct-to-consumer food sales, Eric also learned responsibility through agricultural partnerships and family business work. After high school, he joined Youth with a Mission and taught English in Hong Kong, later returning to help on the family farm during challenging times. He went on to earn a degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Anderson University in Indiana, building knowledge that would support both entrepreneurial and aviation pursuits.

After graduation, Eric and his parents purchased a 37-room lakeside resort in Florida, which included a golf course, banquet facilities, and a restaurant. He was responsible for planning weddings, managing events, and overseeing day-to-day operations. During this time, his passion for aviation was renewed by the arrival of a seaplane. He earned his private pilot certificate and purchased a 1954 Cessna 180 on straight floats, flying whenever he could spare time from managing the resort. When the resort closed after a 2004 hurricane, Eric committed fully to aviation, earning commercial, instrument, multi-engine, instructor, and multi-engine seaplane ratings.

During the Great Recession, he co-founded a seaplane base in Tavares, Florida, which became known as America’s Seaplane City. Partnering with Ricci Rowe, Eric helped develop a booming seaplane tourism and training business. As a high-time multi-engine seaplane pilot and instructor, he achieved the FAA’s highest combination of category and class ratings: ASES, AMES, ASEL, and AMEL. He has recommended more than 100 pilots for advanced ratings and is recognized for his work with Caravan Amphibious aircraft. His role as a demonstration pilot for Wipaire, the manufacturer of Caravan Amphibious floats, further added to his professional credibility.

In 2012, Eric began flying Cessna Caravans out of New York City, traveling throughout South America, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and nearly every island in the Caribbean. From 2019 to 2024, he worked with a VVIP client in the New York area and earned a type rating in the Gulfstream 550. His career has since advanced to flying G550 and G600 aircraft for a Fortune 100 company, operating long-range international missions to the Middle East, Asia, and South America. These responsibilities demand precision, planning, and adaptability. Alongside this role, Eric continues to mentor pilots and is pursuing FAA authorization as a Designated Examiner.

Beyond the cockpit, Eric has served in leadership positions as Director of Operations and Chief Pilot for Part 135 operators. He helped launch a seaplane program at the Vermont Flight Academy and participated in outreach to expand aviation education. He has also volunteered with the EAA Young Eagles program, provided flights for Make-A-Wish and Angel Flight, and supported the Seaplane Pilots Association. His career has even extended into film, with a credited role in “The Rum Diary,” where he flew a twin-engine seaplane.

From flying a family-owned Cessna in rural Pennsylvania to piloting advanced Gulfstream aircraft for a Fortune 100 client, Eric Weaver’s career reflects both versatility and steady progress. His professional path combines corporate aviation, seaplane expertise, instruction, and industry outreach. Today, he continues to contribute to aviation by mentoring new pilots, supporting programs that expand access to flight, and operating in complex international environments that demand skill and experience.