The 180 Mph, 12-Seat Electric Aircraft The US Coast Guard Just Certified As A Boat

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.