Biography Of Eric Weaver

Biography Of 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. Now a veteran business aviation pilot, his career is rooted in his early flying experiences in rural Pennsylvania He later advanced through regional operations to international assignments across the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, and South America, gaining expertise in specialized and large-scale corporate flight operations

Eric’s path from grassroots flying to piloting advanced corporate aircraft reflects his technical skill, adaptability, and operational range. Proficient in seaplanes, Caravan Amphibians, and complex jet operations, he continues to expand his capabilities while mentoring the next generation of aviators.

Eric’s experience bridges hands-on instruction, demonstration flying, and high-level corporate missions. Today, he remains a versatile figure in business aviation with a career characterized by depth, diversity, and a global scope of operations

Roots in Rural Pennsylvania

Eric Weaver’s early life was rooted in a family farming enterprise that fostered his first exposure to aviation. His father and uncle owned a Cessna 170, which they kept on a closed paved road through their farm The ready access to an aircraft laid the foundation for the young man’s lifelong interest in flying

Eric also gained early experience in agricultural partnerships, farm product retailing, and early adoption of direct-to-consumer food sales. After high school, he participated in Youth with a Mission, teaching English in Hong Kong before returning to help on the family farm during a period of personal and business challenges

Eric later earned a degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Anderson University in Indiana This education formed the foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures and aviation career.

A Resort Business and a Rekindled Passion for Flight

Part of the Weavers’ family farm was sold shortly after Eric graduated. Together with his parents, he then acquired a 37-room lakeside resort property in Florida, which included a golf course, restaurant, and banquet facilities

The arrival of a seaplane reignited Eric’s passion for aviation This led him to pursue a private pilot certificate and purchase a 1954 Cessna 180 on straight floats, which he learned how to operate in his spare time.

Eric was then still tasked with managing resort operations, planning weddings and events, and maintaining the greens. However, the closure of the resort after a 2004 hurricane shifted his focus entirely toward aviation In the following years, he expanded his credentials to include commercial, instrument, multi-engine, instructor, and multi-engine seaplane ratings.

Building America’s Seaplane City

During the Great Recession, Eric co-founded a seaplane base in Tavares, Florida, known as America’s Seaplane City. Operating alongside partner Ricci Rowe, he developed a thriving business centered on seaplane tourism and advanced training

As a high-time multi-engine seaplane pilot and instructor, Eric achieved the FAA’s highest combination of category and class ratings, including ASES, AMES, ASEL, and AMEL He has recommended more than 100 pilots for advanced ratings and remains recognized for his expertise in Caravan Amphibious aircraft He also served as a demonstration pilot for Wipaire, the manufacturer of Caravan Amphibious floats

Expanding to Global Corporate Aviation

In 2012, Eric began flying Cessna Caravans out of New York City, a role that would take him across South America, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and nearly every island in the Caribbean. Between 2019 and 2024, he served a VVIP client in the New York area, during which he obtained a type rating in the Gulfstream 550

Eric’s career has since evolved to flying for a Fortune 100 company in both G550 and G600 aircraft, operating missions to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and South America The role combines high-level operational demands with extensive international travel, expanding his experience well beyond his earlier regional and specialized operations

Alongside these duties, Eric continues to train pilots. He is currently pursuing authorization from the FAA to serve as a Designated Examiner

Shaping the Industry Beyond the Cockpit

Eric’s contributions to aviation extend well past active flight operations. He has served as Director of Operations and Chief Pilot for Part 135 operators, helped establish a seaplane program at the Vermont Flight Academy in Burlington, and participated in industry outreach programs

Eric has also volunteered for the EAA Young Eagles program, providing flights for Make-A-Wish and Angel Flight, and supporting the Seaplane Pilots Association His career has also included a credited role in the film “The Rum Diary,” where he flew a twin-engine seaplane in production

As an active pilot, mentor, and instructor, Eric Weaver continues to shape the next generation of aviators while advancing his work in complex and demanding flight environments. With a career marked by a steady evolution from early exposure to small aircraft on a family farm to operating advanced business jets for a global corporate client, he attributes his diverse experience to his versatility and technical depth.