Auckland Seaplanes

[harrysone]

A beaver on floats might be cheaper to charter than a helicopter too I would have thought? The three bladed prop should reduce 'the rasp' considerably, they sound like half a Goose.

Spent 3wks on Vancouver Island with friends in 2005 and again in 2009, the sound of overflying '985s was omni present over much of the Island (Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Port Hardy...Gooses too!).

We also flew up to a glacial lake for a picnic in the Rockies (Widgeon Lake) in a Beaver in 2005.

[ErrolC]

Their Beaver is on the water
nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/beaver-takes-to-water.html

[harrysone]

Saw it today...still in Westhaven, in water by the silos (excuse poor...phone pic)

[smithy]

Would be neat if Auckland got some seaplanes operating again. I can remember always rushing out into the garden when Sea Bee Air's Geese used to fly over the back garden (and very low I might add). Loved them!

[harrysone]

I remember as a kid up until my early '20s launching/retrieving the family boat at the Out Board Boating Club (OBC) in Hobson Bay & having Gooses/Widgeons passing over low on short finals when the wind was particularly West or NW. They were often throttled right back so you weren't aware of them until they were virtually right over you.

Another memory I have is occasionally coming back down the harbor in the boat in the vicinity of the container wharves and having a Goose/Widgeon plop into the water alongside

[haughtney1]

Lets hope they can make a go of it, I would have thought there would be some pent up demand for trips across to the coromandel in the summer. A 35-40 minute flight sure beats a 3 hr drive in traffic, especially if you have a place on the western side.
I also wonder if they are going to offer excursions etc to places like Rotorua for the day.
Auckland in a sense has really been under served in this regard, but then it's always been sold as a gateway city, rather than a destination in terms of things to see and do.

[philip]

I'm starting to have a few doubts about this. As a sailor, Westhaven based, I can't see how this will sit in future Westhaven plans where there is only one narrow entrance. Time will tell.

In the meantime some some reminders of minimum levels may be needed

[harrysone]

Huh! Have you seen Victoria Harbour on Vancouver Island in Canada? Shared boat/plane traffic in a small area with seaplanes actually landing just outside a 100m wide channel....aircaft arriving & departing every 15-20min







rather fascinating to watch

[AussieBob]

The CAA has just notified a proposal to establish a new aerodrome on Auckland Harbour - the notification doesn't give details of location/area

Notices of Proposal to Construct Aerodromes and Heliports
www.caa.govt.nz/aerodromes/Proposals/Aero_Heli_Proposals.htm

[Kereru]

From NZ herald this morning.

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11128240

Cheers

[Dave Homewood]

All the best of luck to them.

I never realised you can fit as many as eight people into a Beaver.

[raymond]

Sept 22, 2013 11:57:53 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

All the best of luck to them.

I never realised you can fit as many as eight people into a Beaver.

Hobbits?

[conman]

They are pretty big inside, although 8 would be snug, and probably includes the pilot seats

[harrysone]

they are basically a winged 1/2 ton pick-up truck, there is actually also a mod that will allow a beaver to carry a quad bike down the back! Wonderful simple, rugged aircraft, however you need a decent pair of 'ear defenders' if you choose to fly in them often



From memory though, I think that you'd be down to 6 POB though with the aircraft on floats

[harrysone]

interesting that the article mentions that a 2nd Beaver will likely join the first, the latest Classic Wings mag mentions that 2 Beavers (one prob AMA) have been imported recently

[AussieBob]

Some interesting discussion by the yachties on the planned seaplane movements around Westhaven and the harbour, (some for and some against), on this forum;
crew.org.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22406
with some interesting details by Chris Sattler of Auckland Seaplanes.

[Dave Homewood]

Here is the Beaver in a moody shot I took yesterday.

[harrysone]

I have heard (2nd hand) that Auckland Seaplanes got their operator's certificate a few days ago. They were up a few times yesterday getting an air to air photo shoot for one of the aviation magazines.

We hope to go for a fly in AMA over the next week or so

Photo taken over Shoal Bay yesterday...AMA flying base leg

[Dave Homewood]

Great to hear. I hope you take lots of photos for us to see Harry.

[harrysone]

Will give it a go...we have managed to round up 5 pax for them i think