Floats in our eyes

[weloveseaplanes]

Thank’s for reading this.

I’m a 34 year old kiwi pilot with about 840 hours and an old kiwi floatplane rating. She’s a 29 year old scuba diving Japanese honey. We just got married last week and as well as each other, well . . . we love seaplanes. I’ve thus decided to dedicate myself to becoming the best professional seaplane pilot I can while providing my family with the simple and beautiful lifestyle they wish. To that end we’ve decided to emigrate to Australia. As our honeymoon we’ll take a camping car for five weeks from May 7th to June 11th and drive up the Eastern Coast of Australia from Melbourne to Cooktown, calling in on as many seaplanes as we can. Our little adventure has three purposes – find out more about seaplanes, find a place to move to and enjoy Australia.

As we know so little about seaplanes we’ve decided to follow my Grandad’s advice; ‘just make sure you write it all down.’ As such we’ve started a website on seaplanes and would also love to write a book on seaplanes in Australia. I believe there are a number of great seaplane pilots out there with tales worth telling.

Gentlemen, any advice or words of wisdom will be gratefully received and carefully considered. PM would be the best way. We would love to follow up any leads and meet you in person. If you’d also consent to a brief interview where your seaplane adventures could be saved for posterity and added to the book on Seaplanes Down Under then a meal and a little present would be the least we could do.

We are very sincere and feel very blessed to have this chance to reset our lives.

Thanks for giving our dreams wings

[pithblot]

Hey Congratulations to you both!

What a wonderful way to spend your honeymoon.

Seaplanes are great and generally the work environment is pretty positive, especially if you are flying happy tourists to beautiful places. I can understand why you are so keen on them. I'm too long out of float flying to give you anything relevant but I'm looking forward to seeing your web site and the book. Don't forget there are some operators in Tassie - two in Strahan and maybe one in Hobart. This time of the year (winter) they won't be doing much. Actually, there isn't much to do in Tassie in winter unless you want to stay indoors with a warm fire, nice wine, cool music... good place for a second honeymoon!

All the best!


Pithblot

[weloveseaplanes]

Wow thanks for the congratulations and advice pithblot. I've PMed you the website address. Don't expect too much though its really pretty pathetic at the moment.

The Tassie idea is one we've also looked at and did find a couple of operators there but it was going to be a hassle to take the camper over. As beautiful as Tasmania is we're keener on settling in a place a little warmer where we can do a bit more basic boat building and sailing. How lucky I am with a wife who helps build boats and takes me swimming. She loves the sea you see.

Please don't think you're 'too long out of float flying' to give anything relevant. I was lucky enough to be raised by Grandad and really appreciate the wisdom of experience. I feel there's a good reason for the phrase 'Elders and Betters.'

Thanks again.

[weloveseaplanes]

The PMs have been great. Thank you for them and please keep them coming.

I know there are a lot of the 'I think I be a seaplane pilot for a while, or maybe a parachute pilot, or perhaps an instructor, no I know maybe a airline Captain' type posts out there from others still at the crossroads of life, wondering what to do. Fortunately we've been through that thought process and are fully locked on to our seaplane dream.

Hopefully we can repay the kindness shown by those of you who contact us by doing the right thing.

Gratefully, WeLoveSeaplanes

[dash 27]

Must see destinations for your tour

Tassie is worth a look. Kevin Pearce is the guy to see there. 185's and a Caravan. Melbourne has Maules on the river. Sydney is a hot spot. It harbours the history of seaplanes in australia from Rose Bay where the Sunderlands flew intercontinental from. There are Beavers, Caravans, 185's and the like. You will want to talk to Gary Fenelon who's on the Van. Via the Gold Coast, see Peter Gash (Seair), one of the pioneers of floats in Queensland. He doesn't run floats any more, but has a story or 2 to tell. Gold Coast Seaplanes which was Gashys original piston float operation have a beaver at the southport aeroclub on amphibs. Doesn't do a real lot these days. Helicopters doninate the gold coast now. The Whitsundays, re Shute Harbour (a land strip) and Hamilton Island have plenty of Beavers and Caravans. And lots of stories to tell. Townsville has a corporate Van and an Ag Cat from the phantom movie worthy of seeing. Cairns have 2 Beavers and there is relatively nothing till you get to Darwin. This is worthy of seeing. 3 Turbine Mallards. And Broome if you get that far have single Otters.

One thing you will learn about Australian Floats operations is that there are 2 kinds of people. Owners and long termers like it sounds you will be and the time getters for the airlines. Every company has one maybe 2 longtermers. Its not like Canada or the Maldives where floats is all a guy will do. So at times the experience level is young, yet the owners can have 10's of thousands of hours.

There is a select few that have ventured overseas flying floats from oz, I'm one, and there is a lot to tell. Oz is just the tip of the iceberg to Canada, Maldives, Spain, France. CL415 water bombers, Twin Otters, there's lots to tell.

Floats will make great reading. Best seller for sure.

Best Wishes and enjoy the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[runway16]

Dash 27 you are well out of date or maybe it was something in the water.
'Maules at Melbourne on the river'! No such thing and never has been.
Kevin Pearce at Tassie with 185's and a caravan.
Mr Pearce has not had a C185 for several years and it has been reported that his Caravan has recently changed hands although the sale has not shown up in the CASA aircraft register site as yet.

[MACH082]

If you want to fly the floats, the best way to get those water landings up is to fly for Alligator Airways in Kununurra. They have a 206 on floats and will hire a newby.

Also Broome have a few 208 operators that will hire low time guys.

Keep away from a certain float operator in Derby

If you want a GA career and an interesting relaxed lifestyle, floats is the way to go

Washing the tanks out each night, cleaning the aeroplane along with cycling fresh water through the turbine can be a downpoint especially after a long day

[weloveseaplanes]

Thanks very much dash 27, runway16 & Mach082.

Thanks for the great leads. Excuse me for taking the liberty of also replying by PM. Please feel free to laugh at my silly seaplane website you'll see linked in it.

Really appreciate the best wishes dash 27. I can have quite a bit of fun with my clothes on, so can't wait to have even more in floats. The gentlemen you've recommended, Kevin Pearce, Peter Gash, & Gary Fenelon have all entered the database and will do my best to track them down and see if they're in the mood for seaplane sharing. You've also given us a great list of must see destinations for our tour: Tassie, Melbourne, Sydney Rose Bay, Gold Coast, The Whitsundays, Shute Harbour, Hamiliton Island, Townsville, Magnetic Island and Cairns. You've done something a bit naughty though hinting at extending our Seaplane Hunting honeymoon from an East Coast adventure around to the North through our Pearly friends and Kimberely cousins. I may just not be able to stop. Congratulations on having the courage to have achieved a life of seaplane adventure and thanks for the inspiration, wow.

As runway16 says it is tricky keeping up to date with the overall seaplane situation down under. That's one of the reasons for the website/book to try to track down all these rumours and create a source of information for all. Not that I know what I'm talking about at all of course, but it appears that there may have been some changes to the Tassie seaplane situation. I could only find Strahan Seaplanes & Helicopters on the net. One old link spoke of Tasmainia Seaplanes based in Hobart & Port Arthur using a couple of Maule7 235Bs with three pilots between then having 37,000 flying experience, but couldn't find the hompage for their company. I wonder if anyone knows if Tasmania Seaplanes, or anyone else other than Strahan are still operating in Tassie and if so if they have a homepage(s) . . ?

Isn't it funny MACH082 how Kununurra is both 1057 km from Broome and 1057 km from Darwin? I wonder how the hell they managed to get it smack in the middle. They must be pretty switched on there. Looks like a cool place though, except of course I mean 'cool' in a warm kind of way it is up there, and its mighty good of Alligator and the Kimberely operators to give us low timers a chance. Thanks for the headsup. And don't worry all the character building that washing the tanks out each night, cleaning the aeroplane along with cycling fresh water through the turbine, especially after a long day, has no doubt made you the fine, upstanding sharing seaplane hints man you are today.

Thanks again guys. Its real fun gathering these hints on the road to seaplane success.

[FOD_Hazard]

Terry Mullholland ran the Maules out of Port Arthur area a few years ago. Can give you the details and contacts of one of his pilots if you like.

Surprised that nobody has mentioned Bill Lane yet (he has over 17000 hrs on floats and is responsible for setting up one or 2 Float operations on the east coast)....am sure he would have plenty of stories that he would be more than willing to share. Can also provide his contact details if you like.

Best of luck with the big adventure, who knows maybe our paths will cross during your travels.

[aussie_hawk]

Just to confirm KP has sold the caravan, just received a new paint job and arrived in broome last night to begin its season up here.

2 company's operating out of broome this dry season using caravans, plus one more company in derby (2hrs north) that own a beaver, cross hire a single otter and have plans to lease a 2nd beaver from over east and to buy a Beech 18 on floats.

Good luck talking to some of these characters, have some great stories if they give you the time of day let alone speak to you.

A_H

[RadioSaigon]

C'mon WLS, post the web-address!!! PM if you must... keen to have a look at your site!

[ABX]

C'mon WLS, post the web-address!!! PM if you must... keen to have a look at your site!

Me too!

There's a Cessna float plane, dunno which variant, maybe 206(?), flying from the pier at Geelong too. Sat there and watched it come and go for a while one Sunday arvo, very nice. One good thing I noticed about float operations that day: Since he was operating inside the bay and the water was relatively smooth he could always take off and land directly into the wind.

[FOD_Hazard]

KP did not turn up for operations in Strahan this year, am also led to believe that he has sold his van and the buisness in Broome.
Strahan Seaplanes and Helicopters is run by Dale Triffett, He operates Island Air Maint out of Wynyard and has 2 C185 seaplanes, He is relatively new to the seaplane game, only been at it a few seasons now, but would be good to chat to as he has operated on the west coast of tassie for quite a few years. He flys fixed wing and rotary and is also a LAME.
Craig Muir would be the man to talk to about float operations in the Kimberlies, that is if you can track him down....he sold Alligator 12 months ago and last I heard he was heading for the Margaret River region in SW WA.

[SmoothCriminal]

Well done on the wedding, it certainly is a big move in life for I did it few months ago too

In the last month or so, to name a few
West Kimberley operations were looking for three float drivers (Caravan's mosty) immediate start, Maldives were looking for FO's and Skippers on their twotters, East Coast seem to get away without much adverts, a singapore hub outfit was looking for Caravan float drivers to be based in Far East Asia, Thailand was looking for Caravan float drivers, Saudi was looking for interestingly caravan water drivers and not sand drivers , all in all a good opening up for the Water World !

Check your PM's, possibly can provide a lot more info if you happen to cruise the TopEnd way

Smoothie

[pithblot]

WLS,

If you get as far as Cairns you might like to keep going North a bit further to Cooktown. It's a top spot, well worth a look and when I was there a few months ago I noticed a really schmick looking C206 on amphibs that might interest you.

[weloveseaplanes]

FOD Hazard, Aussie hawk, ABX, SmoothCriminal & Pithblot. Thanks for all the info - especially about Tassie & the Wild West. I'm not sure how religious I am but some of those classic sayings 'Ask and ye shall receive' and 'Live long and prosper" always touched me so gentlemen if you are still interested in seaplanes you may want to have a glance at your PMs.

From what we've discussed here I wonder if anyone can confirm that the current state of play regarding Tassie & WA seaplane companies is:

Tassie 1 - Strahan Seaplanes & Helicopters
WA 4 - Lloyd Aviation, Reef Flight, Kimberely Extreme & Alligator Air.

Perhaps the van arriving in Broome from Tassie just the night before is indicative of seaplanes chasing that setting sun Westwards? That 18 on floats will be a sight to see though. Alligator Air sounded supportive of the wet-behind-the-ear seaplane pilot and hopefully that's continuing.

More importantly here's also hoping that KP & CM are both repositioning themselves to continue their active involvement and ongoing support of seaplanes down under.

Thanks also for the information on Mr Lane & the U206F (UBI). Thats where we'll start the ball rolling so good to hear of that smooth water. Its also encouraging to hear that that 206 in Geelong and the one in Cooktown both looked in good condition. SC, have seen some of those same ads and can't help agreeing that there is a good opening up for the Water World !'

Go the seaplanes huh!

[ABX]

Nice work

WLSP, I enjoyed your website and think you should consider posting the link here in the thread. I very much doubt it will attract unwanted attention from the mods here as you do not appear to be advertising anything. I suspect that others here might enjoy it as much as I did.

The outfit in Geelong are Bay City Seaplanes and it is indeed a 206 they operate.

Good luck and keep us posted.

ABX

[ABX]

A short course on what not to do:

Click here and below for a chuckle

or

more likely a gasp and a shake of the head.

Got plenty more great links, might post some more if nobody else beats me to it.

[youngmic]

Another nod for Bill Lane.

He did my rating in 03 and I found him to be a genuine true believer and a hell of a nice bloke and as told by others at the time the most experienced float man in Oz. Definitely should be on the list of people to talk to. Last I heard he was in Port Stephens NSW.

I can honestly say the time I spent flying the Beaver out of Derby on what was nothing short of a 5 star food and wine gourmet tour of the Buccaneer Archipelago will go down as a one of the highlights in a fairly varied and interesting career.

Good luck with the book, I'll buy it.

M

[weloveseaplanes]

Gentleman thanks for the welcoming words of support. Will throw myself on your mercy and reply properly later on. The silver bird that will takes us across the Tassy to begin our seaplane honeymoon is an early worm so we've got to be at the airport by 5:30am and what do you know its already 3:30am. Sigh. Don't you just love having to check in a couple of hours before international flights

Shouldn't complain about airlines though. On the way to the wedding in Japan I was 19kg over and AirNZ left me off for free. Good on them. On the way back I was 23 kg over but just paid for 1kg over as I took pity on the poor check in lady as she was forced to explain to her superiors how we can't really charge him for the European knight's suit of armour or his flight suit, helmet, survial vest etc etc and those eight bags he had as they were essential for his traditional Japanese wedding. They all got used in the wedding too, long story there best saved for another night where you can see the photos cause we don't even believe what a crazy wedding it was . . .

Anyway I strongly recommend flashing your wedding photos at bemused check in staff as your baggage kgs start spiraling up. There are lots of good folks around and its great when you can let someone help you out.

You know its easy to express frustration at the airlines but day after they do make millions of peoples dreams come true, whisking them all over. And we thought they were just there to provide things for pilots to complain about on PPrune

With a bit of luck and this continuing flow of Ozzie seaplane information you too are making our dreams come true. Any further news about seaplane ops near you would be most appreciated and will be passed on in turn on the little seaplane website so please do tell.

Wifey's calling gentlemen so will check in later when we arrive in the land of milk and honey in a few hours.

Australian seaplanes here we come!