More great Kai Tak news!
 

www.waterfrontair.com

Looks like Peter de Kantzow is busy at keeping the Kai Tak memory alive! Re-booting his father's and Hong Kong's first commercial seaplane operation; hats off to these guys!


DATE:10/09/09 SOURCE:Flight Daily News
Waterfront Air aims to begin Hong Kong seaplane operations in 2010
By Siva Govindasamy

Hong Kong's Waterfront Air aims to start seaplane operations from a site at Victoria Harbour adjacent to the old airport at Kai Tak from the end of 2010.

The company hopes to build a new Kai Tak waterfront aerodrome in Hong Kong and start with services to Macau using leased de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otters. It plans to extend the services to Guangzhou and Shenzhen eventually, adds Waterfront Air's founder and director Michael Agopsowicz.

He adds that it is seeking permission from the authorities to construct licenced water aerodromes in all of the cities. He says that it will fund the entire project privately.

"Since we started on the project two years ago we have been getting a better idea of the rules and regulations governing the operations of seaplanes. We have done a feasibility study and submitted an application to the authorities. There has been tremendous support from everyone. We plan to begin an environmental impact assessment and formal application process shortly." says Agopsowicz.

While there are extensive ferry and helicopter links between Hong Kong and Macau, he says that seaplanes tap into a different target market. "We eye the international travellers who want to add value to their trip, the affluent market,'' he adds.

Seaplanes were last used in Hong Kong in the 1960s. These were deployed for about 40 years on regular scheduled services to destinations like Macau and Guangzhou.

"The flight will take about 20 minutes and the view will be amazing. We are confident that it will prove to be a success." says Agopsowicz.

all the more reason for repainting the checkerboard. if these planes land parallel to old 13 they have to use the old approach, no?

Concept has been tried and tested
 

Vancouver, Maldives, Bali, Caribean. All successful airtaxi operations using larger seaplanes. Not heard of these business men, but figure they will need the experience of Kenn Borek Air of Canada or Seaborne Av of the States, or the like at least initially. And seaplane VFR will be the only way to deal with the crap wx. The challenge with that is the sea traffic, and the noise factor. I think the concept will work, if they allow the experienced operators to offer direction. Dealt with a start up in Shandong. Caravans, and high time IFR drivers from Jets and Saabs. Ended in a train wreck. Because the experience end was not with water drivers. There are very experienced Twin Otter Float drivers out there, but seldom do ill advised start up's want to pay the money to do it right the first time. I wish them well, and would certainly put up my hand if offered.
With Global Warming and more ocean on the way, I figure the wages can only go up for a "Professional Ditcher!!"
:}:}

Crikey
 

Harsh Vermin, Harsh!!!
:=

If it's about a business in China, then only the only ones who can make it a success are the Chinese themselves.

Good luck to Waterfront Air.

Love to see it. I've 1500 hrs on floats including
beaver/otter.

Cant See it ever starting up. Can't see CAD allowing it

Sad :(

I can't either, but who says it needs CAD approval ?

I'm not saying any more. Use a bit of lateral thinking, mate.:ok:

If he's got any of his father's blood in him . I'm sure it will be a success:ok:
Good luck Peter!
You check out his father's exploits here.
Sidney H. de Kantzow

Waterfront Air Seaplanes


I guess you're right Dash 27!

Who was that??

Great news
 

Ken Borek Air has extensive support and experience, so a practical choice.
Lots of good seaplane operators in US/Canada using many different types (Beaver, Turbo-Beaver Turbine- Otter Twin Otter etc)
Me thinks the C208 Caravan on floats to be a better deal; cheaper to operate, carries the same load over similar distance, and in HKG no icing problems to hamper the operation. Mind you the sounds of R985's would be great in HK skies again!

Yep we only have the choppiest harbour in the world, tallest buildings on the harbour front surrounded by lumps of rock and the occasional super typhoon.

Some of you naysaying old-women are the most negative, miserable sods out.

Congratulations and good luck to Waterfront Air - a brilliant idea and a great alternative to the expensive Helicopter services.

There are too few people willing to do something entrepreneurial and different these days. So many are simply too scared to do anything more adventurous than sit and type miserable negativity on internet chat-sites. Great contribution to the world that is!

Good luck Waterfront and never mind the naysayers. :D

So true A. Le Rhone. If folks would take the time to check things out, the Waterfront Air website clearly states that the take off area is behind the typhoon shelter next to Kai Tak, so no concerns about choppy water or marine traffic. Additionally, there are no tall buildings in the middle of the harbour where the existing VFR flight paths are! Choppers and GA A/C use these routes every day without concern. Lastly, just like the choppers, the fleet would be grounded during typhoons; thats what VMC is right? A bit of research and critical thinking can go a long way...

I bet you take that back when you see the actual prices for the 20 minutes trip ;-)

I'd like to bring the Zeppelin NT to to Hong Kong, for all the tourists to enjoy. I just need someone to sign the cheques (and a huge hangar for all the IMC days). PM me if this sounds interesting!! :E

What is the capacity for Otters on floats? It's surely not 18.
I just hope these guys dont get hit by the downturn. One thing in their favour is the up turn in Macau gambling in the last 3-4 months. Good luck guys.

Singapore planning to have Zep too, may park in Johor!

Yikes! $100m invesment, how long to re-coup?

Airships Over Singapore Soon? | Straits Times

Weren't Rainbow Jet based in Shandong with a couple of Challengers and C208 on floats? Not sure if they are still around though.

Wow you guys don't know much about twin otters!! Seating for 19 plus 2 crew. 12,500 lb gross. Twin PT-6-27(34's)
And Hong Kong sounds like a piece of cake compared to Maldives: high winds, low vis, coral, tides, swells, crazy boat drivers

Don't know why not...that's what they have on the Twin Otters at STT.
The 'ole DHC-6 is a fine airplane, I flew the first one to arrive on the US west coast...in 1966.
Great fun...:ok:

It has been a year since the last development and the web site hasn't been updated since then. Any idea if this is still alive?