Float Plane Trips - Banff area
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: UK
Float Plane Trips - Banff area
Can anyone suggest any companies or contacts for a float plane trip around Canmore, Banff area?? Will be staying in Canmore with relatives for 2 weeks later this year. Always fancied a trip on floats, and Canada seems the perfect place to start!
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: UK
Thanks for the replies. Looks like a trip further afield than Banff area is required.
Out of curiosity, are there any recommended flying clubs/charter(apart from float stuff) around Banff area? Any GA type really. Im not looking for any self hire, just simply an hour or 2's pleasure flying with a local instructor.
Out of curiosity, are there any recommended flying clubs/charter(apart from float stuff) around Banff area? Any GA type really. Im not looking for any self hire, just simply an hour or 2's pleasure flying with a local instructor.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,175
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From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
Mike,
As everyone has said, Southern Alberta is not float plane country and landings are prohibited in National Parks.
My recommendations would be, in order of preference:
1. Do a mountain checkout with an instructor from one of the operators at Springbank (CYBW) - about 1 hour's drive east of Canmore. You'll pass Springbank driving from Calgary to Canmore when you arrive. It's not on floats but really cheap by UK standards and you'll get a great airborne tour of Banff Park and learn some interesting stuff.
2. Go to Golden for a Beaver float plane sightseeing trip or a C185 skiplane trip including glacier landings. Golden is about 2 hours west of Canmore and the mountains (Bugaboos and Purcells) are not in a National Park. Google purewest alpenglow, but I suspect they may not be in business. if that's the case, check with Golden Visitor Information Centre (1 800 622-4653) for other options.
3. Less interesting but more convenient - take a helicopter tourist flight from Canmore.
If you want to do some serious float flying, you need to go to Vancouver or Victoria.
I42
(ex-Calgary)
As everyone has said, Southern Alberta is not float plane country and landings are prohibited in National Parks.
My recommendations would be, in order of preference:
1. Do a mountain checkout with an instructor from one of the operators at Springbank (CYBW) - about 1 hour's drive east of Canmore. You'll pass Springbank driving from Calgary to Canmore when you arrive. It's not on floats but really cheap by UK standards and you'll get a great airborne tour of Banff Park and learn some interesting stuff.
2. Go to Golden for a Beaver float plane sightseeing trip or a C185 skiplane trip including glacier landings. Golden is about 2 hours west of Canmore and the mountains (Bugaboos and Purcells) are not in a National Park. Google purewest alpenglow, but I suspect they may not be in business. if that's the case, check with Golden Visitor Information Centre (1 800 622-4653) for other options.
3. Less interesting but more convenient - take a helicopter tourist flight from Canmore.
If you want to do some serious float flying, you need to go to Vancouver or Victoria.
I42
(ex-Calgary)
Last edited by India Four Two; 6th July 2008 at 19:49.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: UK
Thanks very much, most helpful. Option 1 looks like the best bet so far. I can hopefuly borrow my relatives car and get myself mobile. Typical though, I go to visit family and spend my time flying!! I havent been to Canada so really looking forward to the trip. Thanks again for the info
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: canada
Mike if you end up at Springbank and need any help let me know...i moved to Canada from England a year ago, currently doing my instructor rating here and will be happy to help you out. Best to fly in the morning around Banff area this time of year...unless you like thunderstorms and turbulence!
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Wiltshire/Quadra Is. BC
Mike
You are just going to love Canada and with you floatie interest even moreso when you travel to Vancouver (Coal Harbour and Fraser River South Terminal), Victoria, Naniamo etc etc but the West Coast will wow you generally.
None moreso perhaps than flying the mail-run in a DHC-2 with Vancouver Island Air or Corilair from Tyee Spit, Campbell River,....
ENJOY!
WHIO
You are just going to love Canada and with you floatie interest even moreso when you travel to Vancouver (Coal Harbour and Fraser River South Terminal), Victoria, Naniamo etc etc but the West Coast will wow you generally.
None moreso perhaps than flying the mail-run in a DHC-2 with Vancouver Island Air or Corilair from Tyee Spit, Campbell River,....
ENJOY!
WHIO
Joined: Sep 2001
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2,782
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From: Toronto
You may want to look up Soar the Rockies in Invermere BC South of Golden on the Trans Canada.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 134
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From: Crew bunk
I've landed on a number of the national park lakes in Southern Alberta a couple of hundred times and nobody complained! Could have had something to do with the load of water I was scooping to put out their fires, though. Absolutely stunning landing on the blue-green lakes like Minnewanka near Banff! Didn't see a floatplane the whole time I was out there, or boats for that matter. I might have seen a few canoes!
If you want floatplanes, head to Northern Ontario. Red Lake, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, etc... That's floatplane central in that area. Beautiful in the summer, too!
If you want floatplanes, head to Northern Ontario. Red Lake, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, etc... That's floatplane central in that area. Beautiful in the summer, too!
