fbpx

From Topgun to Seaplanes

Navy fighter pilot builds Tropic Ocean Airways into a seven-aircraft fleet

By Kevin Gale | Photos by Amanda K. Photography www.photosbyamandak.com

It’s no coincidence that Tropic Ocean Airways seems as though it’s organized like a fighter squadron.

CEO Rob Ceravolo is a 10-year active duty Navy veteran who flew F-14 Tomcats and F-18E Super Hornets, attended Topgun Fighter Weapons School and served as an air combat instructor.

When he transitioned to the Navy Reserve in 2011, Ceravolo set out to fulfill his dream of building a seaplane airline. What started off as just one airplane and one employee has evolved to seven aircraft, 20 pilots and 40 employees. He’s planning to add four more planes this year.

The late-model Cessna fleet includes both non-seaplanes and seaplanes, which also have wheels and hold five to nine passengers plus two pilot seats.

Like the Navy, Ceravolo has strict safety requirements, including two-pilot crews who are trained in risk management. However, he says his company is strongly based on customer service and includes having friendly pilots and valet service for cars.

Tropic Ocean Airways is based at the Sheltair Aviation facility at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, but can also fly out of the Miami Seaplane Base on Watson Island, across from PortMiami. The base was once home to Chalk’s International Airlines, which ceased operations in 2007.

The airline has scheduled service to Bimini and Great Harbour Cay in the Bahamas. It also has scheduled service to Havana through a partnership with a Cuban travel agency. Ceravolo plans to launch scheduled service to Marathon in the Florida Keys and Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay in the Bahamas. As an example of fares, a round-trip flight to Great Harbour is $600.

Tropic Ocean can be chartered to take passengers just about anywhere they want to go in the Caribbean, since seaplanes just need water to land. If you don’t want to pitch a tent on an idyllic uninhabited island, the airline also offers packages with resorts.

VP Nick Veltre and CEO Rob Ceravolo lead fast-growing Tropic Ocean Airways
VP Nick Veltre and CEO Rob Ceravolo lead fast-growing Tropic Ocean Airways

During the summer, Tropic Ocean sends some of its fleet to New York City, flying out of the East 23rd Street dock and going to destinations such as East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Fire Island and Nantucket. Ceravolo plans to increase the number of planes in New York from two to four in the summer of 2016. The service is offered with the BLADE crowdsourcing app for helicopter and seaplane service.

In the fall, Tropic Ocean started round-trip flights to Gainesville for Florida Gator fans during home football games. The 80-minute flights are designed to arrive two hours before kickoff to allow time for tailgating and return an hour after the game ends.

Tropic Ocean, which had a booth at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, also serves a yachting clientele. Ceravolo says it can fly passengers or bring provisions – whether it’s an emergency delivery of spare parts or a delivery of caviar.

But not everything is caviar and Champagne dreams at Tropic Ocean. In April, the airline donated flights for “A Special Day for Special Kids” at Boca Raton Executive Airport. The children flown had medical conditions or special needs.

On Oct. 5, Tropic Ocean announced that it was mobilizing its fleet to help with recovery efforts from Hurricane Joaquin in the Bahamas. Some of its ex-military pilots have relief experience from the tsunami and earthquake in Japan. Two days later, the airline had delivered 30,000 pounds of supplies to a command hub in Georgetown and then flew them to multiple affected areas.

You May Also Like

Toni’s Sushi Bar in Miami Beach Undergoes Redesign

To prepare for Toni’s Sushi Bar’s highly anticipated 40th anniversary as Miami Beach’s longest-running sushi bar, the iconic eatery is thrilled to announce the unveiling of its extraordinary redesign. The

Discover the Top Easter Brunch Spots in South Florida

The region offers an eclectic mix of dining destinations, each offering its unique spin on the beloved tradition.

A Five-Course Triumph

Val+Tino deftly blends Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. 

Le Colonial in Delray Beach Introduces Luxurious Piano Bar Experience

A pianist-vocalist will perform Sundays through Wednesdays.

Other Posts

Miller Construction Finishes Building BMW Dealership in Pembroke Pines

The state-of-the-art showroom aims to enhance the customer’s experience.

Newgard Development Group Unveils Plans for Newest Lifestyle Project: Natiivo Fort Lauderdale

The 40-story, 384-unit high-rise in downtown is designed for short-term rentals.

LEGACY Unveils Game-Changing Fort Lauderdale Renovation

LEGACY, the renowned fitness brand by visionary entrepreneur Manning Sumner, has unveiled a major expansion of the brand’s Fort Lauderdale facility. Redefining the fitness landscape in the area, the location’s

Broward Partnership Celebrates 25 Years of Service During Salute to Leadership Silver Soiree Event 

The organization also announced several leadership changes and promotions of key personnel.

Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.